THE ATENEO Men’s Baseball Team snatched their second straight win (2-0) in the University Athletic Association of the Philippines (UAAP) Season 85 Baseball Tournament after prevailing over the University of Santo Tomas Growling Tigers, 8-5. The match was held earlier today at the University of the Philippines (UP) Diliman Baseball Field.
Despite the bases being loaded in the top of the first inning, Atenean pitcher Ethan Mitschiener impressively got out of the first frame unscathed. Mitschiener inflicted a flyout and a strikeout to deny the Growling Tigers an opportunity to score any runs.
Ateneo burst out into a 4-0 run lead in the second inning, courtesy of a Joaquin Mendoza two run-batted-in (RBI) double, Javi Limpo one-RBI double, and a Joaquin Casanova RBI groundout. Stepping into the third inning, the Ateneans continued to pile on the pressure. Enzo Montemayor pushed the Blue Eagle lead to five runs after the leadoff runner stole two bases off of a UST infield error, 5-0.
Even with the España-based squad replying with two runs in the fifth inning, Ateneo’s Mendoza swiftly countered with a home run which sent Geoffrey Magsadia and Joaquin Alcaraz to the plate as well, 8-2.
Despite UST cutting the Ateneo lead to three runs after seven frames, closing pitcher Joshua De Juras capped off the game with two shutout innings for the save. This impressive defensive stand from the Blue and White ultimately gave them the ball game, 8-5.
With two wins in the books for the Ateneo Baseball Team to start their season, Mendoza believes that the team will only look to get better as the season continues. “So far, we’ve been playing well offensively and defensively, and of course, our pitching as well… I hope that we just keep leveling up our game. As our coach said, our first game was just our baseline, [and] from there we just have to get better every game.”
The Loyola-based squad will look to capitalize on their good run as they go up against neighboring UP Fighting Maroons on Sunday, March 19, at 3:30 PM at the same venue.
