ADAMSON University capitalized on the breaks of the game to pull off a 3-2 escape of University of the Philippines, completing a first round sweep in the UAAP Season 86 Softball Tournament on Saturday at the UP Baseball Field.
The Lady Falcons continued its mastery over their fellow-finalist last season and it took the very last play on the former’s defense to close out the two-hour and 15-minute battle.
It all started, though, with huge events in for the reigning 10-time champion’s offense in the seventh inning with senior Khrisha Cantor starting it off.
The designated player was 0-of-2 at-bat before the said frame but got her lone hit of the night to left-center to go.
Jeelyn Pajotal, who came on to hit for Madaelene Domaug, then forced an error on UP center-fielder Algrace Adajar to advance Cantor as well.
Another miscue, this time off KC Valino on a passed ball drove in the eventual winning run.
“Sabi ko sa kanila sa pre-game talk, expect na nila that this will not be an easy win. Dapat i-expect nila na makalaglag puso ‘to. Be prepared sa mga pwedeng mangyari. Hindi mga perfect plays ang dapat paghandaan kundi ‘yung mga worst plays katulad nung kanina,” Adamson head coach Ana Santiago said.
The home side threatened to at least extend the game into extra innings after first baseman Martine Francisco and substitute left-fielder Laica Atlas got on the bases.
Angel Pascual drove in a huge hit off April Minanga, but Lady Falcons’ senior centerfielder Alaiza Talisik gathered the ball to put an end to the heart-stopping battle.
The Fighting Maroons slipped to an even 2-2 record, just behind University of Santo Tomas Tiger Softbelles’ 3-1.
The España-based squad bagged its third straight win at the expense of De La Salle University at 6-0, fueled by a huge four-run second inning with left-fielder Erika Fernandez leading the way with two hits on three at-bats.
The Lady Green Batters stayed in fourth place with 1-3, with Ateneo de Manila University Blue Eagles still winless after four.
The Lines:
DLSU 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 – 0 4 2
UST 1 4 0 1 0 0 0 0 – 6 10 1
AdU 1 0 0 0 0 1 1 – 3 5 0
UP 0 0 0 2 0 0 0 – 2 5 1
