Adamson completes UAAP softball elims sweep, drops La Salle to bronze battle vs UST

Reigning 11-time champion Adamson University completed an elimination-round sweep of the UAAP Season 87 Softball Tournament in dominant fashion, shutting out De La Salle University 9-0 in five innings, Saturday at the Rizal Memorial Baseball Stadium in Malate, Manila.

The Lady Falcons will carry their perfect 8-0 record into Game 1 of the best-of-three finals series against the University of the Philippines Fighting Maroons, set for Tuesday.

Meanwhile, the Lady Batters will battle the University of Santo Tomas Tiger Softbelles on the same day in a one-game playoff for the bronze medal.

(C) UAAP Season 87 Media Team

“At least ngayon, mas maganda ‘yung hitting namin against La Salle compared sa previous game. So, I think, ‘yun nga, nire-ready na rin nila ‘yung sarili nila (for the Finals) kasi sila mismo sinasabi nila hindi madali ang championship ngayong taon,” said head coach Ana Santiago.

“At least, what is important is, sabi nga nila, nasa championship pa rin kami,” added the concurrent Blu Girls head coach.

Offense — an area Santiago and her coaching staff had been focusing on in recent games — was in full display as Adamson secured its eighth consecutive victory. Neomay Mahinay and Mae Langga set the tone as the team’s lead-off batters.

Mahinay delivered a flawless performance at the plate, going two-for-two, while Langga, who replaced Chastene Jover, smashed a double in the fifth inning.

Senior Alaiza Talisik played a crucial role in the Lady Falcons’ fourth-inning surge, recording a double that drove in two runs. Jeelyn Pajotal and Roma Jane Cruz extended the lead to 7-0, and Talisik later scored on a hit by Madaelene Domaug, pushing the margin to 8-0.

(C) UAAP Season 87 Media Team

On the mound, April Minanga took over from Glory Alonzo and maintained Adamson’s shutout.

She held La Salle scoreless over two innings despite surrendering three hits — one each to April Gonzales in the fourth and Glecilyn Alipato and Julian Gail Moral in the fifth.

Alonzo, who secured the win, allowed just one hit from Cassandra Inot in the third inning, leading to three scoreless innings for La Salle.

Lady Green Batters pitcher Joerjette Jordan absorbed the loss, giving up four runs in the first two innings before being pulled from the game.