La Salle rallies for eight in extras to edge Adamson, take solo second in UAAP Baseball

De La Salle University needed an explosive eight-run, extra-inning rally to stop Adamson University, 15–12, securing their second consecutive win in the UAAP Season 88 Collegiate Men’s Baseball Tournament on Sunday at the Rizal Memorial Baseball Stadium in Malate, Manila.

The Green Batters improved to a 3–1 record, moving into second place, just behind the undefeated National University Bulldogs.

NU was still facing the UST Golden Sox at the time of publishing in this tournament, held in partnership with the Philippine Sports Commission.

After erupting for 23 runs in their previous outing against Ateneo de Manila University, La Salle relied on its offensive firepower once again in extra innings, as nine innings could not separate the two Taft-based squads.

(C) UAAP Season 86 Media Team

A sacrifice hit from Liam De Vera advanced Yuan Sumague and Marco Tantuico into scoring position.

Two consecutive pitching miscues from James Nisnisan — a walk and a hit by pitch — resulted in four runs in the tenth inning.

Hits from Ezy Bautista and Tuting Samuel extended the lead to eight, a margin that proved decisive as Samuel shut down Adamson on the mound.

“Sabi ko nga, every game na darating nitong first round, ito ‘yung magde-determine ng ranking namin. So sabi ko sa kanila, every game is a must-win,” said head coach Joseph Orillana.

“Kunin natin ‘tong game na ‘to. And ‘yun nga, lumabas ulit ‘yung paluan natin do’n sa Ateneo. Yun naman exactly ‘yung nangyari pero later part ng game. Eventually, nagtuloy-tuloy kasi kailangan namin ng insurance,” he added.

Bautista once again led the Green Batters offensively, finishing with two hits and three RBIs.

Yuta Kajihara added two RBIs on his lone hit in the sixth inning, which sparked a four-run surge for the Green Batters.

Samuel closed out the win, allowing just two hits and striking out two batters in the decisive inning.

Next up for the Green Batters is a rematch of the last two Finals series with the Bulldogs to close out the first round on Wednesday’s third and final game.

“Ang sabi ko lang is dapat ando’n kami sa top two; hindi kami mawala do’n. Pero ang main goal rin sa Wednesday is matalo ang NU, para umakyat kami sa number one at maging maganda ang pasok namin sa second round,” Orillana added.

(C) UAAP Season 86 Media Team

Adamson forced extra innings with a score in the eighth, but it was their six-run rally in the middle innings that shifted the game’s momentum.

Kier Plaza led the Soaring Falcons with three RBIs, including two from his lone hit in the tenth inning, following Lawrence Mercado’s three-hit performance that produced an RBI.

Nisnisan delivered a strong start with two hits and two RBIs, but fell under La Salle’s pressure in the ninth and tenth innings.

The Soaring Falcons, now 1–3, will try to close the round on a winning note against the University of the Philippines Fighting Maroons in Wednesday’s second game.