In a battle of the two remaining listless teams in the tournament, the De La Salle University Lady Batters limited the Ateneo de Manila University Lady Eagles to just two hits in a 6-1 win to notch their first win and keep their rivals winless.
La Salle sophomore pitcher Jamica Arribas was untouchable for almost the entire the game. Arribas and the Lady Batter fielders only allowed two hits in the game, both singles.
The Lady Batters from Taft Avenue almost punched in their first run in the second inning. A throwing error by Ateneo’s third basewoman gave Vanessa Borbon second base with one out. However, a flyout of the next batter and a tagout of Borbon at second base gave the Blue side the huge double play.
However, the inevitable happened in the third inning. The first batter, rookie Sachiel Amores, was walked. Team captain Mary Joy Son then connected with a one-out double to punch in La Salle’s first run. Son was then brought home after a passed ball to end the third inning with the Lady Batters up 2-0.
In the fourth inning, the lead continued to balloon for the Lady Batters. First batter Pat Belarmino immediately connected for a solo home run to center-left field. Rookie Lalaine Cunanan followed after. A double by Velasco with one out paved the way for La Salle’s fourth run of the game. Capping the rally was a sacrifice fly by lead-off batter Hyacinth Abanilla to give the Lady Batters a 5-0 lead. Starting pitching Nevalga was replaced by Caira Ventosa after.
“It’s a big win. It’s our first win for the team. It’s a good day, lumabas yung palo namin early especially in that solo home run. It’s our first home run this season,” Lady Batters head coach Alex Estipular said.
The second hit of the game Arribas gave up to the Katipunan-based squad’s only run of the game. During the fifth inning and with two outs, Kat Villareal connected with a single while Clarise Dacanay was walked to give the Lady Eagles two bases. An error by La Salle’s second basewoman Mary Joy Son gave Villareal the chance to take home and put Ateneo on the board.
The Lady Batters were able to pick up one more run in the sixth inning courtesy of Victoria Munoz. On the other end, the DLSU fielding did not allow their opponents to a base hit in the last two innings.
Besides giving up just two hits in the game, Arribas was able to strikeout five batters in the seven innings she pitched. “Actually, napag-aralan na si Jamica pero at least ngayon may back-up na. Ang importante talaga suportahan lang na ng palo,” the DLSU mentor added.
Looking forward, Estipular is hoping that the team can build off this win in saying, “Sabi ko nga sa kanila nakapasok na tayo sa win column, sana magtuloy-tuloy na ito.”
The DLSU Lady Batters cap their first round campaign against the UST Tiger Softbelles on Monday, February 14. On the other hand, the Ateneo Lady Eagles face a heavily-favored Adamson Lady Falcons squad on the same day.
| TEAMS | 1st | 2nd | 3rd | 4th | 5th | 6th | 7th | R | H | E |
| ADMU (0-5) | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 2 |
| DLSU (1-4) | 0 | 0 | 2 | 3 | 0 | 1 | X | 6 | 7 | 2 |
