Neomay Mahinay shines with perfect hitting as Adamson overpowers UP in UAAP Softball

Adamson University and University of the Philippines renewed their rivalry in a rematch of last season’s finals on Saturday, but it was still the 11-time defending champion Lady Falcons who reigned supreme.

Adamson flexed its offensive might to overpower UP, 12-4, in six innings, staying unbeaten in the UAAP Season 87 Softball Tournament, Saturday at the Rizal Memorial Baseball Stadium.

Third-year third baseman Neomay Mahinay delivered a perfect 4-for-4 hitting performance, helping the 11-time reigning champions seize the solo lead ahead of their final first-round game.

Moving up as the leadoff hitter, Mahinay answered the call, much to the delight of head coach Ana Santiago, who had been looking for improved offensive execution despite back-to-back abbreviated wins.

(C) UAAP Season 87 Media Team

“Ngayon, happy ako kasi sabi ko nga last time, siguro makukuha rin nila ‘yung momentum nila sa paluan. Ito nga, maganda ‘yung pinakita nila ngayon. Siguro kasi mas focused ‘yung training namin sa hitting, ‘yung lahat ng dapat naming i-adjust, in-adjust namin,” said Santiago, also the concurrent RP Blu Girls head coach.

Mahinay also contributed two RBIs and was at the plate when Adamson scored three of its four runs in the third inning, extending the lead to 8-3 and all but sealing the victory.

“Maganda lang nag-respond sila (sa adjustments). Namomroblema kasi ako the past two games, laging out ang aking first batter. Alam mo naman na ang first batter dapat madalas nakakatuntong agad,” the Adamson great added.

“So, happy ako para kay Mahinay na nag-step up siya as one of the (seniors). Kailangang-kailangan kasi namin ngayon na may mag-step up talaga na ‘pag nasimulan talaga may susundan. So, hopefully, kung ano ‘yung ginawa namin, tuloy lang.”

Jane Marie Sigue made the most of her first-ever start for the Lady Falcons, limiting UP’s normally potent offense to just four hits and two earned runs in 2.2 innings.

Season 85 Finals MVP Glory Alonzo then took over in the circle, allowing just a single hit from Martine Francisco while striking out two batters the rest of the way.

Adamson will look to complete a first-round sweep when it faces the gritty De La Salle University Lady Batters (1-2) on Tuesday at 10:00 AM.

Meanwhile, UP will attempt to bounce back earlier that day at 8:00 AM against University of Santo Tomas (1-1).

(C) UAAP Season 87 Media Team

The UST-Ateneo match, later in the day, was halted in the third inning due to heavy rain.

Cheif umpire Jun Cruz made the call to suspend the game after an hour-long delay.

The match will be rescheduled and restarted on a yet-to-be-announced date, as determined by event sub-host Adamson University.

(C) UAAP Season 87 Media Team

The Fighting Maroons struggled offensively, with Francisco being the only player to record multiple hits, finishing with two.

The Lady Falcons also applied defensive pressure, forcing UP into four errors — an uncharacteristic showing for a team that had committed none in their previous wins over Ateneo and La Salle.

Joy Laurente took her first loss of the season after allowing eight runs — four of them earned — in the first three innings. She also surrendered five of Adamson’s 10 hits, while EM Viñas and Diane Pasco were responsible for the remaining four runs.