Francisco, Romero-Salas power UP to mercy-rule win over Ateneo in UAAP Softball

Martine Francisco fueled a massive opening-inning outburst as the University of the Philippines set its redemption bid in motion with an 11-0, four-inning rout of Ateneo de Manila University on Tuesday at the Rizal Memorial Baseball Stadium in Malate, Manila.

The fourth-year first baseman delivered two hits and drove in two runs in the first frame, jumpstarting the Fighting Maroons’ campaign to end three straight bridesmaid finishes.

Francisco opened the scoring with a single to center field that brought home Jaja Pascual. She then followed it up with a double to left field in her second at-bat of the same inning, allowing team captain Nickole dela Cruz to score as UP seized full control early.

Rookie Sathia Romero-Salas, a product of Imagine Learning Excellence Academy, provided the biggest spark of the game. She led off for UP with a triple to center field, igniting the offense as the Season 85 to 87 runners-up never looked back despite going quiet in the next two innings.

The right fielder later stretched the lead to seven runs in the opening frame with a sacrifice fly to right field that plated Reuel Caoagdan.

(C) UAAP Season 88 Media Team

“First game, may mga kaunting ano ‘yan, nine-nerbyos, pero na-pack up naman nila. Maganda naman ‘yung hitting kaya masaya ako do’n sa start namin sa offense. Sa pitching, ok rin naman; gano’n din sa defense,” said UP head coach Ron Pagkaliwagan.

“As a rookie maganda, kasi unang palo (ni Sathia), triple agad. So, expected naman namin ‘yon, kasi kung anong pinapakita nila sa training, hopefully, lumabas naman sa laro.”

Pagkaliwagan now hopes to keep UP in top form as the team prepares for its showdown against De La Salle University next Tuesday at 11:00 AM. The Lady Batters previously absorbed a 2-1 loss to the UST Softbelles after taking a one-run lead in the third inning.

“Kailangan naming paghandaan ‘yung La Salle. Magaling rin ‘yung team ng La Salle; although, lahat naman ng team may laro, so, kailangan namin silang paghandaan, one game at a time lang,” said the fourth-year mentor.

“Basta lumabas kung ano ‘yung ginagawa nila sa training, lumabas lang during the game, happy na ako do’n.”

On the mound, KC Valino and Joy Laurente combined to shut down Ateneo across four innings.

Valino nearly kept a perfect slate if not for UP’s lone error — a fielding miscue by shortstop Aila Subaldo that allowed Katrice Ditchon to reach first base. The senior ace still struck out six of the seven batters she faced.

Laurente, meanwhile, retired three Blue Eagles in her UAAP debut, capping the game with a strikeout of Andrea Daquigan.

(C) UAAP Season 88 Media Team

Marvelous Romano absorbed the loss for Ateneo after surrendering 11 runs on nine hits before Ditchon came in to record the final three outs in the third inning.

The Blue Eagles will look to snap their nine-game losing streak dating back to Season 86 (2024) when they face the same DLSU squad on Saturday at 11:00 AM.