DE LA Salle University secured the first Final Four berth in the UAAP Season 86 Baseball tournament with a tight 6-5 victory over archrival Ateneo De Manila University under the searing summer heat on Sunday at the UP Baseball Field.
The Green Batters, aiming for a third straight championship, broke out of a three-way tie to claim the provisional solo lead with a 6-3 win-loss record by capitalizing on the scoring opportunities presented to them.
Trailing 4-5 heading into their offensive side of the eighth inning, De La Salle loaded the bases with runners on first and second base, capitalizing on an unfortunate circumstance for the opponents.
Ateneo substitute pitcher Gab Francisco endured his fourth and fifth hits by pitch, forcing him back to the dugout for Joshua De Juras.
The reigning back-to-back champions saw Lord Aragorn De Vera intentionally walked to load the bases.
Shinji Kajihara then tested the defense with a low hit to the left that was eventually caught, before JR Samuel singled to the middle of the field, scoring two runs for the final tally.
“Sabi ko strong start tayo, ganun naman nangyari, pero sumunod na-hold na kami ng pitcher,” said De La Salle head coach Joseph Orillana.
“Sabi ko lang rin, tiyagain natin, pitch by pitch at hintayin natin manghina ‘yung pitcher. ‘Yun nga nangyari, sunud-sunod ‘yung hit by pitch niya at nung napalitan siya, ginawan lang namin ng paraan.”
It was a promising start for the Green Batters, scoring four runs in the first inning with Ateneo starter Manuel Senador struggling to find the strike zone.
However, Ateneo managed to catch up with runs in the second and third innings.
With Joaquin Mendoza and Ethan Mitschiener delivering hits, the Blue Eagles scored five runs in those frames to take a 5-4 lead.
Season 85 Finals MVP Joshua Pineda then took the mound for De La Salle, silencing the Katipunan-based side’s bats, allowing only five hits but no runs.
The Blue Eagles’ three-game winning streak came to an end as they slipped to 5-4, placing them in third behind the National University Bulldogs (5-3), who had a game later in the day.
The Lines:
DLSU 4 0 0 0 0 0 0 2 0 – 6 4 3
Ateneo 0 3 2 0 0 0 0 0 0 – 5 11 3
