THE ATENEO Men’s Baseball Team’s (2-7) late-game issues continue as they absorbed a 7-13 drubbing at the hands of the De La Salle University (DLSU) Green Batters (6-3). The University Athletic Association of the Philippines (UAAP) Season 85 match was held yesterday, April 12, at the University of the Philippines (UP) Diliman Baseball Field in Quezon City.
With the loss, Ateneo will head into their final game of the season with seven straight losses under their belt. The Blue and White has since then been eliminated from postseason contention after their previous loss to the UP Fighting Maroons.
Both teams came up with runs for their respective squads to open up the game, but the Green Batters jumped out to an early 2-1 lead to end the first inning. The Taft-based team proceeded to keep their foot on the gas pedal, unloading four more runs thanks to big hits from Ignacio Escano and JM Segui, who made it a 6-1 DLSU advantage after three innings.
[Third inning – Bottom]
— Vito Martin (@Vito_TheGUIDON) April 12, 2023
An Ateneo error sees Flores and Pineda settle on the second and first bases. Segui then hits a triple to send them home.
Ateneo: 1 DLSU: 6@TheGUIDONSports #UAAPBaseball
Ateneo’s Nathan Visaya trimmed their rivals’ lead in half with a 2-Run-Batted-In (RBI) double after Dax Fabella and Rico Samson both got on base for the Blue Eagles. Lorenzo Montemayor then lessened the deficit even further, sending Visaya home with an RBI hit to make it just a 4-6 DLSU lead through the top of the fourth.
[Fourth inning – Top]
— Vito Martin (@Vito_TheGUIDON) April 12, 2023
Visaya’s 2 RBI double gives Ateneo momentum as Montemayor’s grounder also sends Visaya home on the next pitch!
Ateneo: 4 DLSU: 6@TheGUIDONSports #UAAPBaseball
The Green Batters took one run back after Vince Flores’s sacrifice bunt brought Renato Samuel home from third base. However, this run was quickly countered by the opposing Loyola Heights-based squad, as Samson’s line drive base hit to left gave Ateneo their fifth run through six innings, 5-7.
[Sixth inning – Top]
— Vito Martin (@Vito_TheGUIDON) April 12, 2023
Samson’s line drive up left is enough to send Fabella home!
Ateneo: 5 DLSU: 7@TheGUIDONSports #UAAPBaseball
In the seventh inning, JC Dela Rosa and Joshua De Juras would each get base hits to go through, giving Luis Casanova a chance to tie the ball game up in the top of the frame. A screamer to right by Casanova would do just that as both runners crossed home plate to make it a 7-7 ballgame. La Salle would open up the floodgates in the eighth inning after allowing Ateneo to come back, bringing home six big runs led by Pio Villamiel’s 3-RBI triple which put the game on ice, 13-7.
[Eighth inning – Bottom]
— Vito Martin (@Vito_TheGUIDON) April 12, 2023
Villamiel hits a three RBI triple with a flyball to increase the lead for La Salle.
Ateneo: 7 DLSU: 11@TheGUIDONSports #UAAPBaseball
The Blue Eagles look to end their turbulent season on a high as they face the National University (NU) Bulldogs on Saturday, April 15, at 7:30 AM at the same venue.
