THE ATENEO Softball Team (AST) finished their University Athletic Association of the Philippines (UAAP) Season 88 campaign with a 1-16 loss against the University of the Philippines (UP) Fighting Maroons. The Blue Eagles’ final match was held earlier today, March 24, at the Rizal Memorial Baseball Stadium in the City of Manila.
With this defeat, Ateneo remains at the bottom of the standings with a 0-8 record.
Despite the blowout, Jeanne Yap showed her determination, securing the Blue and White’s only point in the match.
The Blue Eagles survived an early offensive barrage by the Fighting Maroons, only letting the Diliman-based squad score three runs. However, Ateneo failed to notch a run in the bottom of the frame, ending with a 0-3 score in the first inning.
The Loyola Heights-based squad then struggled to find their footing in the second inning, surrendering five points to UP. With their backs against the wall, the Blue Eagles broke through after Yap hit a grounder along the middle for a triple. The veteran then managed to secure the point after a single by Marvelous Romano. The second inning concluded with Ateneo trailing by seven, 1-8.
The third and fourth innings told the same story, with the Blue Eagles giving up one point in each frame, leading to a nine-point deficit going into the fifth inning, 1-10.
In danger of falling to a mercy rule, the AST tightened their defense. However, UP’s batters proved unrelenting, as they secured six runs in the fifth inning, 1-16. The Blue Eagles added three more hits at the bottom of the fifth, but the Fighting Maroons’ defense held firm and prevented Ateneo from scoring a run. With that, the game ultimately ended in a mercy rule defeat for the Blue and White, 1-16.
As their Season 88 campaign comes to a halt, the AST will look to use their experience as lessons for growth and progress, aiming to regroup and break their four-season-long losing streak in UAAP Season 89.
The Lines:
Ateneo (0): 0 1 0 0 0 x x – 1 5 4
Adamson (17): 3 5 1 1 6 x x – 16 11 3
Current Standings (W-L):
- AdU Lady Falcons (6-1)
- UST Tiger Softbelles (5-2)
- UP Fighting Maroons (5-2)
- DLSU Lady Batters (2-5)
- ATENEO Blue Eagles (0-8)
