| SCOREBOARD |
| FINAL | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | R | H | E |
| UST (2-2), 3rd | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 1 |
| DLSU (3-1), 2nd | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | – | 2 | 7 | 0 |
La Salle Greenhills standout, DLSU rookie Vicente Barandiaran gave up only two hits in leading the DLSU defense in a shut out of the UST Golden Sox, 2-0.
Rookie pitcher Vicente “Boo” Barandiaran gave up his first of only two UST hits in the first inning after a Jay Kimilat hit. The rookie then struck out Arcel Aligno, while the next two batters at-bat were put out at 1st base. First UST batter Jay Imperial was left on base after the opening inning.
At the bottom half of the first inning, 3rd year player Francisco Hashimoto put the Green team on the board with a run coming from a Fernando Imperial RBI.
Vicente Barandiaran and the DLSU were in complete lockdown mode the rest of the way. The fielders of the Green Batters gave up only one hit the rest of the way. In the 3rd inning, Arvin Plaza was able to secure a hit but was left on base by the DLSU defense. The only batters that were able to get on base for the Golden Sox were Gilbert Gonzalez (hit by pitch, 3rd inn), Kimferlee Lopez (bases on balls, 4th inn and BB, 7th inning) and Arcel Aligno (hit by pitch, 9th inn). All four runners were either putout or left on the base.
The DLSU Green Batters were able to score their 2nd run in the 6th inning to put DLSU up 2-0. A Paolo Salud RBI led to a Jay Imperial run in what would be the last run scored in the game. Another run for DLSU was almost scored in the 7th inning. Carlos Laurel, who was down with the flu, pinch hit for Ricardo Yulo. Laurel was able to reach 3rd base but was left there after a 3 outs, including a strikeout of the 3rd batter Francis Gesmundo.
With the shutout in reach, DLSU head coach Joseph Orillana decided to stick with Barandiaran in the 9th inning. The rookie pitcher struck out Kimilat. Next batter Arcel Aligno was hit by a pitch and later stole 2nd base. However, two straight strikeouts of Christian and Max Mercado sealed the shutout in favor of the Green Batters.
Joseph Orillana told us post game that he was proud of his rookie’s performance. “Ang ganda ng bato ni Barandiaran. At yung depensa ngayon ang nag panalo sa amin. Yung pitcher namin kitang-kita niya ang strikezone.”
When asked about the Rivalry game on Sunday, Coach Orillana had this to say: “Di kami puwede mag start ng slow sa Linggo. Yung depensa namin nandiyan na, sana pati ang palo magpakita.
The DLSU Green Batters next play the Ateneo Blue Batters on Sunday, February 8 in a rematch of the UAAP Season 76 finals while the UST Golden Sox next face the UP Fighting Maroons in the first game of the day. Both games will be played at the Rizal Memorial Baseball Stadium.
