| TEAMS | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | R | H | E |
| DLSU (1-3) | 1 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 2 | |||||
| UST (3-0) | 2 | 1 | 3 | 8 | 2 |
It was one of those days when the University of Santo Tomas Tiger Softbelles could not buy a run. Fortunately for them, their defense was on-point as last season’s silver finishers sent the De La Salle University Lady Batters crashing back down to earth in a 3-1 win, Saturday afternoon at the historic Rizal Memorial Baseball Stadium.
“Hitting talaga. Nag-full bases tayo, walang palo pero na double play pa,” long-time UST head coach Sandy Barredo remarked about a botched play during the second inning that would have opened the floodgates of the game. In total, UST had six runners left on base while going 8-of-27 at-bat.
Fortunately for the Tiger Softbelles, their ace pitcher and an unsung hero stepped up to the plate.
Arguably the league’s best pitcher Ann Antolihao (2-0) stifled the La Salle offense with the Lady Batters connecting just once against her while striking out 15 batters — her second double-digit strikeout game.
On the other end, right fielder Shiela Perales went 2-of-3 at-bat, bringing home RP Blu Girls center fielder CJ Roa both in the second and the third innings that proved to be enough.
“Yung three National Players ko magkakasunod sa batting order. Good thing si Perales nag step up, kasi si [Bianca] Hernandez sa ilalim niya, wala pang palo,” Barredo added.
La Salle’s ace Jamica Arribas (0-3) was connected on eight times.
UST though will have a tough task in its next outing, facing defending UAAP Champions Adamson Lady Falcons on Monday, February 13.
“Weather, weather lang yan. Malay mo hindi na naman lumbas palo namin sa Lunes,” Barredo said about the showdown. “Kailangan medyo relax ng konte ang mga bata at sana walang kakabahan. Kailangan pa ng konteng polishing.”
La Salle (1-3) will open February 13’s festivities when they face the UP Lady Maroons (2-1) at 8:00am.
