The Adamson University Lady Falcons, behind another excellent offensive by Riezel Calumbres, blasted the National University Lady Bulldogs, 7-3, to be just two wins shy of their sixth straight elimination round sweep in the UAAP Softball Tournament.
In a surprise, the top of the NU batting order jumped on Dimpo Benjamen and the Adamson defense to start the game. After a walk of Shaira Damasing and a single by Colleen Alilin with two outs, senior Mia Macapagal surprised the Adamson faithful with a huge double to center-right field that brought in both runners for a 2-0 lead.
The defending champions though were able to get those two runs back at the bottom end of the inning. Riezel Calumbres was walked by rookie Mary Ann Ramos. A catching error at first base with Lorna Adorable at bat led to a Calumbres run. A sacrifice fly by Angelie Ursabia followed that moved Adorable to prime scoring position while a ground out of Benjamen led to a run for Ursabia to tie the game.
“Sa kin naman ineenjoy ko lang yung game kahit na saan ako ilagay sa batting order,” Calumbres explained about the change from clean-up hitter to lead-off during the second round that helped improve the Adamson offense. “Nasa isip at sa puso lang naman kasi yun, laban lang ng laban kahit anong mangyari.”
After Benjamen and the Adamson defense held the Jhocson Street lady batters scoreless in the next four innings, the Lady Falcons exploded with a huge rally that broke the game wide open at the bottom of the fifth inning. Calumbres opened the inning with a single while a walk and a failed fielders choice attempt loaded the bases immediately. Benjamen then connected with a long single to right field to bring home all three runners.
NU head coach Egay delos Reyes then subbed Ramos for Rina Vailoces after but Adamson’s high-powered offense proved too much. A single by Queeny Sabobo followed and a walk of Gelyn Lamata again loaded the bases. Designated player and rookie Nicole Padasas was walked as well to bring home Benjamen’s pinch runner Ivy Capistrano. Gelyn Lamata was then brought home after a sacrifice fly by Riflyca Basa to cap the Adamson rally.
“Yung rally na yun, sinasabi kasi ni coach every inning na ‘kayod, kayod, kayod,'” Calumbres said about the huge five-run rally. “Patayan na kung patayan kumabaga. At dumating din yung inning namin.”
The Lady Bulldogs were able to pick up one run in the sixth inning courtesy of Aimee Watson but the Adamson defense stayed active all throughout to lockdown the Lady Bulldogs. Benjamen had seven strikeouts in the game while the Adamson defense left six runners on base.
Calumbres was 2 of 3 for the game in connecting with two singles and was able to punch in two runs.
Dimpo Benjamen had two RBIs in the game as well. On the other end, she pitched the whole game and was able to strikeout seven batters.
The Adamson Lady Falcons play their penultimate game for the season on Monday, February 29 against the DLSU Lady Batters at 7:00am. Later in the day, the NU Lady Bulldogs play their final game of the season against the UE Lady Warriors on the same day at 11:00am.
| TEAMS | 1st | 2nd | 3rd | 4th | 5th | 6th | 7th | R | H | E |
| NU (2nd, 7-4) | 2 | 1 | 3 | 7 | 2 | |||||
| ADU (1st, 10-0) | 2 | 5 | X | 7 | 7 |
