PAINTING THE field blue in their heated re-encounter, the Ateneo Softball Team secured their first win of the tournament after thrashing the De La Salle University (DLSU) Lady Batters, 4-1. The Blue Eagles moved to 1-5 in the University Athletic Association of the Philippines (UAAP) Season 86 standings yesterday at the University of the Philippines Baseball Field in Quezon City.
Opening the match with shaky footing, the Blue Eagles struggled to outlast their opponents in the first inning, handing DLSU a short-lived advantage, 0-1. Eager to level out the ballgame early on, the Katipunan-based team banked on La Salle’s brief loss of composure after scoring their lone point. As the team drummed strong hits one after another, Ateneo’s willful swings brought Kyle Mejillano home to tie the score, 1-1.
Forerunner Noelle Franco initiated Ateneo’s vigorous third-inning dash, beating the ball to first base in a split-second clash. A massive strike from Team Captain Alia Tuprio then heightened Franco’s momentum, enabling the shortstop to tally another point for the Blue Eagles as she sprinted back to home base. Toward the latter half of the third canto, Rochelle Dacutan’s cutthroat catches ruined La Salle’s chances of chalking in more runs, taking down two batters with perfectly timed catches, 2-1.
Despite an early ousting for Mejillano, the Blue and White’s sweep streak continued in the fourth inning. Vehement knockdowns from Asya Tuprio and Regina Mendiola steadily allowed first runner-on Martina Nacion to complete her track. After the Blue Eagles secured the top of the inning, Asya Tuprio dashed La Salle’s hopes to retaliate. Catching high balls flung meters past second base, the sophomore forced out two of DLSU’s key batters to pin their Taft-based foes at 3-1.
A stalemate in the fifth inning ended with both teams unable to overthrow one another as centerfield Lady Batters devised a double-play to kick out Dacutan and Alia Tuprio. The tandem of Dacutan and Macasaet then countered La Salle in the lower half by snatching two ground balls, keeping the score at 3-1. Tension rose between both squads, resulting in another inning deadlock. However, exceptional defense from the Tuprio siblings prevented the Lady Batters from marking another point, 3-1.
Hungry to topple DLSU, Alia Tuprio hammered in a home run dagger for the Blue Eagles and scored their final point, 4-1. Displaying undeniable field chemistry, Ateneo’s speedy defense beat down three consecutive opposite batters, seizing the game once and for all.
The Ateneo Softball Team looks to extend their winning streak as heavy underdogs against the Adamson Lady Falcons on Wednesday, March 20, at 5:00 PM in the same venue.
Editor’s Note: Alia Tuprio is the Broadcast News Editor of The GUIDON.
Inning Scores:
DLSU: 1-0-0-0-0-0-0
Ateneo: 0-1-1-1-0-0-1
Current Standings (W-L):
- AdU Lady Falcons (5-0)
- UST Tiger Softbelles (4-1)
- UP Fighting Maroons (3-3)
- DLSU Lady Batters (1-5)
- ATENEO Blue Eagles (1-5)
