NU edges UST in wild UAAP Baseball slugfest to maintain perfect slate

National University stayed perfect with its third consecutive win in the UAAP Season 87 Baseball Tournament, surviving a thrilling 15-14 slugfest against University of Santo Tomas, Tuesday at the Rizal Memorial Baseball Stadium in Malate, Manila.

With the victory, the Bulldogs seized the solo lead in the standings, but it took a gutsy effort to fend off a late Golden Sox rally in the eighth inning.

Trailing 13-14 after UST plated two runs at the top of the eighth, Amiel De Guzman and the back-to-back-seeking NU squad capitalized on their opponent’s miscues to reclaim the lead with two crucial runs.

Nigel Paule sparked the rally by drawing a walk and stealing second with Kevin Maulit at bat. Maulit then smashed a deep hit to center field, allowing Paule to score.

A costly fielding error by UST shortstop Jesus Cabigao sent Maulit home, sealing the Bulldogs’ advantage.

Those late-game heroics proved vital as De Guzman took charge on the mound, striking out John Beronilla and Prince Harry Geronimo in the ninth inning to secure the win in a tense three-hour, 30-minute contest.

(C) UAAP Season 87 Media Team

“Nag-prepare talaga kami during the break kasi nga ‘yung kalaban is getting better almost every game; tumitindi ang labanan sa UAAP. We really have to prepare mentally, hindi lang ‘yung skills,” NU head coach Romar Landicho said.

He went on, “Kailangan talagang ibuhos namin kagaya ng game ngayon na ang galing ng UST, especially the coaches. Naging mind games ‘yung laro, kung sino talaga ang hindi bibigay, ‘yun ang mananalo.”

Herald Tenorio, fresh off a home run against University of the Philippines in their previous outing, carried his momentum with two hits and one RBI.

Kent Altarejos mirrored his production with two hits and two RBIs. Maulit added two RBIs as well, thanks to his eighth-inning heroics and a sacrifice fly in the first that brought home his brother, Kenneth.

NU will aim for its fourth straight win when it faces Ateneo de Manila University (1-2) on Sunday’s second game. Meanwhile, UST will look to bounce back in their 7:00 AM clash against De La Salle University (1-1).

The Golden Sox staged an impressive comeback earlier in the game, battling back from a 1-7 deficit by scoring 10 runs between the third and fifth innings.

(C) UAAP Season 87 Media Team

This surge was ignited by a booming solo home run from national team standout John Reymond Vargas in the second inning.

Vargas’ homer ignited UST’s rally, as he was intentionally walked in three of his next five plate appearances.

One of those intentional walks came in the third inning, when UST scored four runs. Vargas later added a triple in the fifth, driving in two more runs as the Golden Sox poured in five runs to tie the game at 11-all.

Geronimo contributed three hits to complement Vargas’ efforts but faltered in the crucial ninth inning, striking out to seal NU’s victory. Geronimo absorbed his first loss as UST’s pitcher despite limiting NU to just eight hits.

Although the Golden Sox outhit the Bulldogs 20-8, their seven costly errors ultimately doomed their chances.