THE ATENEO Baseball Team (ABT) failed to extend their winning streak after absorbing their third loss of the season against the Adamson University (AdU) Soaring Falcons, 1-13. The round two opener in the University Athletic Association of the Philippines (UAAP) Season 88 took place earlier today, March 18, at the Rizal Memorial Baseball Stadium in the City of Manila.
This loss keeps the Blue Eagles at third place in the tournament’s standings, tied with Adamson at a 3-3 win-loss record.
Starting the game, Lucas Atendido went on the mound in hopes of establishing a strong defense. However, the Blue Eagles could not match James Nisnisan’s speed, allowing the Soaring Falcon to steal second base. Moreover, Ateneo’s outfielders were slow to catch fly balls, letting Adamson’s Kier Plaza secure a home run at 0-2. In an attempt to catch up, Team Captain Joshua De Juras capitalized on pitcher Dan Bacalla’s error for Ateneo’s first run, 1-2.
In the second inning, the Katipunan-based squad fell prey to Jimbo Matanguihan’s double on a line drive as he scored through second baseman Dax Fabella’s error, 1-3. The bleeding continued for the Blue Eagles as the Soaring Falcons promptly advanced on the bases, 1-6. Lagging behind, Ateneo’s Mickey Osorio missed the chance to hit a run in the bottom of the second after striking out.
Similarly, despite Waji Magsadia grounding into a double play in the third inning, Alfy Tueres was eventually caught at second base, unable to return home. The fourth frame was also evidently dry in offense, as both teams committed consecutive fouls without runs.
With Adamson and Ateneo struggling to regain footing, the fifth frame found no bases filled for both sides. While Osorio managed advancing to second during the bottom inning, Adamson pitcher Bacalla eventually outpaced the Blue Eagles and found first baseman Plaza to end the frame.
Adamson was first to break the scoring drought at the top of the sixth inning, with a sacrifice fly and a single to send two of their runners home, 8-1. On the offensive end, the Blue and White struggled to get any hitters on base as they accumulated a line out, ground out, and pop out to abruptly end the inning.
In the seventh inning, Fabella failed to capitalize on a groundball, allowing the Soaring Falcons to record another run, 1-9. Making up for the error, Ateneo’s infielders prevented Adamson from getting past third base with quick tags to tally three outs. However, the Katipunan-based batters remained rattled by Adamson’s pitching at the bottom of the inning.
As fatigue settled, both teams’ piling errors resulted in no runs being produced for either side in the eighth inning. Despite Angelo Bernardo advancing to third base, the Ateneo veteran could not shift the tide as Marcus Cueto’s strikeout marked another scoreless bottom for Ateneo.
Falling victim to hit-by-pitch calls on Cueto, Ateneo allowed Adamson to load all bases to begin the final inning. Unable to contain the eventual surge, Ateneo gave up three runs off a double line drive, 1-12. Adamson’s Kean Matanguihan then stole home to put the game further out of reach, 13-1.
With no more response from the Blue Eagles, Khristian Ferrolino’s pop out ended the bottom and sealed the victory for the Soaring Falcons, 13-1.
After breaking their winning streak today, the ABT looks to return to the winning column against the De La Salle University Green Batters on Sunday, March 22, 11:00 AM at the same venue.
The Lines:
Ateneo (1): 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 – 1 6 6
AdU (13): 2 4 0 0 0 2 1 0 4 – 13 11 3
Current Standings (W-L):
- NU Bulldogs (5-1)
- DLSU Green Batters (4-2)
- ATENEO Blue Eagles (3-3)
- AdU Soaring Falcons (3-3)
- UST Golden Sox (2-4)
- UP Fighting Maroons (1-5)
