National University ushered in a new era with a dominant 16-3, seventh-inning abbreviated win over Adamson University to close the opening day of the UAAP Season 86 Baseball tournament on Sunday at the UP Baseball Field in Diliman, Quezon City.
The Bulldogs, who finished fourth last season, gifted newly installed head coach Romar Landicho a debut UAAP victory after the squad parted ways with long-time mentor Egay Delos Reyes,
“Isa siguro sa change is yung mindset lang, kasi last year ‘pag dumarating kami sa late innings parang bumibigay. So, ‘yun talaga ‘yung in-address namin, ‘yung mental toughness,” said Landicho of what changed with the team aside from the coaching staff.
That composure was evident as NU pulled through despite Adamson scoring in the fifth and sixth innings.
With senior and starting pitcher MJ Carolino back in full health and with Amiel De Guzman providing the finishing kick, the Bulldogs limited the Soaring Falcons to just three runs on seven hits.
Carolino ended his five-and-a-half innings at the mound with those three runs, fanning three batters in the process.
“Siguro maganda na na-establish namin sa first game para ma-experience nga mga bata. Hopefully, matuloy-tuloy lang namin ‘yung momentum,” Landicho said.
On the offensive side, Kevin Maulit provided the muscle for the Bulldogs as the shortstop finished with two hits in four at-bats, sending three of his teammates home and scoring one as well.
Nigel Paule added two more hits – in the very first at-bat of the game and another one to start the seventh-inning binge.
The Line
NU 1 4 3 0 1 0 7 x x – 16 12 5
AdU 0 0 1 0 1 1 0 x x – 3 7 7
