| TEAMS | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | R | H | E |
| UST (2-2) | 7 | 2 | 1 | 4 | 3 | 3 | X | X | 20 | 14 | ||
| ADU (3-2) | 3 | 1 | X | X | 4 | 7 | 7 |
Following wins over the DLSU Green Batters and the Ateneo Blue Eagles, the Adamson University Soaring Falcons were on a high as they rode a three-game winning streak. However, the University of Santo Tomas Golden Sox had plans of their own, sending the Soaring Falcons crashing back down to earth after taking a 20-4 abbreviated seventh inning win Sunday morning at the Rizal Memorial Baseball Stadium in the city of Manila.
The win sends UST rocketing to a 2-2 slate. A win against UP on Wednesday will force a three-way tie with Adamson and La Salle. And it was their offense that carried them as they connected on 14 hits, slamming reliever Christian Maigue (2-2) and the rest of the Soaring Falcons pitching staff.
“Mainit yung bat nila ngayon. Siguro nakapag-adjust na sila sa pressure,” said UST head coach Jeffrey Santiago. “Sabi ko nga sa kanila, ‘madami naloko sa bola ng Adamson na payugoy-yugoy lang.’ Timing lang talaga kailangan dun.”
Leading the bombardment was Elijah Pagkaliwagan, picking up four RBIs and two runs on 4-of-5 at bat. Jayrome Kimilat added four more runs while driving in three as he was an efficient 2-of-3 at bat as well.
“Nag-deliver yung kanilang depensa at opensa mas lalo na si Kimilat pati si Padracio at yung reliever natin na si Badong [Mercado], matagal nakapahinga kaya presko yung kanyang braso,” Santiago remarked about his team’s offense.
After going down 3-0, the Golden Sox offense clicked during the second inning sparked by a solo home run by Kirk Daquis. Starting pitcher Raymond Nerosa and Maigue could not find their touch as UST was able to score six more runs in the inning.
UST punched in 13 more runs, including four in the fifth inning and three each in the final two innings to lambast the Soaring Falcons.
John Benedict Pedracio and Alwen Calbang had 2 RBIs as well.
On the other end, lefty pitcher Lesmar Ventura (2-1) allowed four runs on four hits during the 2 1/3 innings he pitched while reliever Max Mercado shutout the Soaring Falcons the rest of the way.
“Aangat tayo basta magtuloy-tuloy,” Santiago said.
Jerome Yenson and Lexter Carandang were the sole bright spots for Adamson. Yenson went 2-of-3 at bat, highlighted by a solo home run during the third inning, while Carandang went 2-of-3 as well, including a 3 RBI double during the first inning.
The Golden Sox will finished their first round campaign on Wednesday, February 22 when they finish their game against UP.
