UNABLE TO capture their first win of the University Athletic Association of the Philippines (UAAP) Season 88 Softball Tournament, the Ateneo Blue Eagles fell victim to powerhouse University of Santo Tomas (UST) Tiger Softbelles, 3-10. The second round opener took place earlier today, March 14, at the Rizal Memorial Baseball Stadium in the City of Manila.
Following this defeat, the Blue Eagles tallied 0-5 in the win-loss column, leaving them last in the standings.
Eager to capture their first win of the season, the Blue Eagles came out in the top half of the inning full of vigor, as pitcher Kat Ditchon legged out a single for Ateneo’s first hit of the day. With Ditchon advancing to third base with two outs in the inning, Czelle Basa delivered a looping single to give Ateneo the lead, 1-0.
The Blue and White’s lead would be short-lived, however, as UST stalwarts Gen Degollacion and Helga Campos found themselves on base with the scores tied, 1-all. Moments later, a single from Anna Rosa Macatbag put the Blue Eagles behind at the end of the first inning, 1-3.
After going scoreless in the top half of the second inning, the Blue Eagles were unable to contain the España-based squad’s offense, giving up four runs in quick succession to further increase their deficit, 1-7. Looking to stop the bleeding, Andeng Daquigan’s brilliant play at first base finally halted the momentum for the Tiger Softbelles. Subsequently, a catch in the outfield finally put the inning to bed with no further runs added.
Struggles continued to mount for the Ateneo offense, as UST pitcher Sheilla Sicor strutted her wares on the mound to leave the Blue Eagles scoreless once more in the third inning, 1-7. Two more runs—this time delivered by Degollacion and Campos—further compounded the Katipunan-based squad’s woes, extending the Blue Eagles’ disadvantage to eight, 1-9.
With both teams going without an additional run in the entire fourth inning, the Blue Eagles looked for one last chance to tack on more runs in the lopsided contest. Up to bat, Daquigan hammered a screaming double to give Ateneo life in the top half of the fifth inning. Moments later, catcher Zyrah De Guzman drove her teammate in with a single of her own, 2-9. Next on deck, Basa delivered with her second run batted in (RBI) of the day, bringing in Aly Gonzalez to home plate, 3-9.
Basa’s RBI, however, would be the last run for the Blue Eagles, as the Tiger Softbelles’ newly-subbed-in pitcher Shanna Europa made quick work upon her entrance, striking out two to end the top half of the fifth inning. Following another run from UST to increase their lead, 3-10, the Blue Eagles’ defense put an end to the contest, as Ateneo succumbed via mercy rule.
Following this defeat, the Blue Eagles will aim to capture their first win of the season against the De La Salle University (DLSU) Lady Batters on Tuesday, March 17, in the same venue.
Box scores:
Ateneo (3): 1 0 0 0 2 0 0
UST (10): 3 4 2 0 1 0 0
Current Standings (W-L):
- UST Tiger Softbelles (4-1)
- UP Fighting Maroons (4-1)
- AdU Lady Falcons (3-1)
- DLSU Lady Batters (1-4)
- ATENEO Blue Eagles (0-5)
