| SCOREBOARD |
| FINAL | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | R | H | E |
| DLSU (3-1), 2nd | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 5 | 5 | 4 |
| UE (3-1), 3rd | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 5 | 4 |
The Lady Batters from Taft continue to surprise, this time showing their improvements on defense in a 5-1 win over the University of the East Lady Warriors last Saturday at the Rizal Memorial Baseball Stadium to jump to solo 2nd in the standings.
DLSU senior Mary Joy Son started right off the bat at the top of the 1st inning with a deep grounder into center field for a double. A sacrifice bunt by Mercy Arroyo gave Son 3rd base. The first run of the game was scored courtesy of a single RBI triple by Vanessa Borbon. Borbon then scored a run of her own after a fielding error by UE left fielder Josephine Francisco. The score was 2-0 in favor of DLSU at the end of the opening inning.
The DLSU defense almost gave up a run in the 2nd inning. UE’s Imee Salvador hit a single then was able to steal two bases to end at 3rd base. However, next at-bats Junaisa Jaspe and Charlene Quintos were putout at 1st base. Jonavie Jeresano was then struck out by rookie pitcher Jamica Arribas, leaving Salvador on base.
A catching error gave UE its first run in the game. Mary Rose Panes walked to first base. A single by Salvador then moved Panes to 3rd base. Now in scoring position, an error by DLSU catcher Jen Gomez paved the way for Panes to reach home.
UE starting pitcher Jeresano did not give up a single hit from the 2nd inning to the 5th inning. In that stretch, she struck out five DLSU batters with no one reaching first base. However, in the 6th inning, Son batted her second double of the day. A single by Arroyo gave DLSU two bases. Third at-bat, Borbon hit a sacrifice fly to center field that gave Son another run. Arribas then hit a double that led to an Arroyo run. To stop the bleeding, the UE coaching staff had no choice but to sub out Jeresano for Lovely Redaja. The 6th inning ended with DLSU on top, 4-1.
Sophomore Maria Victoria Muñoz was able to score another run in the 7th inning to extend the DLSU lead to four runs. With the game on the line at the bottom end of the last regulation inning, Arribas was as cool as a cat for the Lady Batters. After giving up a single to Lourdes Blanco, Blanco was putout at 2nd base after a fielder’s choice. Arribas then struck out Roxzell Niloban for 2nd out. Finally, Panes was putout on first base to seal the game for the DLSU Lady Batters.
Son led the DLSU offense with two runs and two hits, both 2B’s. Super rookie Arribas was again excellent on the mound in giving up just a single run and five hits while striking-out six UE batters. Moreover, the DLSU fielding left nine runners on base including four runners that were in prime scoring position.
DLSU head coach Alex Estipular told us that the staff scouted the UE Lady Warriors well. “Talagang pinaghandaan namin ito. Unang-una, highly spirited ang depensa namin. One of the most important diyan, nagdeliver ang aming pitcher na nasuportahan ng depensa at ng palo.”
The head coach also gave this analogy: “Yung runs namin nung umpisa, parang kaming nakapag deposit ng runs para may ipon.”
The 2nd place DLSU Green Batters next face the Adamson Lady Falcons. As a preview, Coach Estipular told us that he has a secret in store for the defending champions. To close the interview, he had this to say about their big game against Adamson, “win or lose, given na yan malakas talaga (AdU Lady Falcons) pero bilog ang bola.”
The DLSU Lady Batters will have the next game day off. They next play the Adamson Lady Falcons on Saturday, February 14 at 8am. The UE Lady Warriors will look to bounce back on Wednesday, February 11 against the defending champions the Adamson Lady Falcons at 11am. Both games will still be played at the Rizal Memorial Baseball Stadium.
