Connect with us

Hi, what are you looking for?

Tiebreaker Times

News

6th inning blitz powers UP in shutout of UE


TEAMS1234567RHE
UP (1-0)128X1191
UE (0-1)54

After a silver finish two years ago anchored by then-rookie pitcher Cochise Diolata, the Lady Maroons entered Season 79 with doubts after their ace pitcher was declared ineligible for the season.

The softbelles of the University of the Philippines though showed no effects of what happened, rallying around each other to take their opening day assignment in dominant fashion, 11-0 abb. 6th, Saturday afternoon at the Rizal Memorial Baseball Stadium in Manila.

“It feels very light. We all just connected. I know that we lacked a pitcher, but we showed that even without her, we can still do it,” said outfielder Chantal Bongat.

“We changed our goal when we knew we lost Chise for the season. Instead of just winning, [we changed our goal] to working together. And we just connected,” team captain Gelai Penales added.

Penales gave much-needed lift to UP’s batting order, a line-up that lost Gabin Paz and twins DC and Denise Cruz to graduation. She went 2-of-4 at-bat, including two RBIs.

“We actually lost our field [in UP] so what we just did was only batting and lifting weights. We made the most of what we had and, I think, lumabas naman yung power sa game namin,” Penales quipped.

And it was none more evident than in the sixth inning of the game, an inning that felt like an eternity for the Lady Warriors.

A single by Clarisse dela Cruz sparked an 8-run inning that confounded relievers Lovely Redaja and, later on, Lorraine Collado. Six of those runs were earned and was capped by an RBI triple from Jazreel Movido.

#ReadMore  Defending the Fort: Lady Maroons complete comeback, keep title-defense alive

By the end of the inning, the Lady Maroons held an imposing 11-0 lead.

Third year pitcher Ella Martinez (1-0) made her first UAAP start as she filled in the shoes left by Diolata. She pitched 3 2/3 innings, allowing five hits. Rookie Allyssah Palacol then closed out the game, shutting out UE the rest of the way.

“They were ready naman. Our other pitchers, kahit if they’re not our number one pitchers, they gained a lot talaga and they showed it with their effort,” Bongat, who had two RBIs and a run, reflected.

Movido and Marric Cabriana chipped in two runs as well.

Elvie Senangote (0-1) pitched 3 2/3 innings and allowed two runs before being subbed out in the fourth inning.

UP (1-0) will next face Ateneo (0-1) on Monday, February 6 in a game they are not taking lightly.

“We need to stay humble and not let this win get in our heads,” Penales said.

UE (0-1), on the other hand, takes on La Salle (0-1) at 1pm.

Written By


You May Also Like

AdU

Adamson University captured its 10th consecutive UAAP Softball championship after surviving a gritty challenge from the University of the Philippines, 2-0, on Saturday at...

News

It has been eight long years since University of the Philippines made it to the UAAP Softball Finals, but this season, they are finally...

AdU

ADAMSON University moved one win away from its 10th straight championship after pinch-hitter Mae Langga’s walk-off frustrated University of the Philippines, 2-1, in Game...

ADMU

ADAMSON University earned a 7-3 victory over University of the Philippines in a UAAP Season 85 softball finals preview, Saturday at UP Diliman Baseball...

ADMU

EVEN with two game dates left before the end of the elimination round, University of the Philippines and Adamson University arranged a Finals showdown...

ADMU

University of the Philippines outlasted defending, nine-time UAAP Softball champion Adamson University in a match that lasted for 11 innings, taking a 3-2 walkoff...

News

A lot has changed in the first UAAP Softball Tournament in four years. The major difference for this season is that only five universities...

AdU

It felt like a huge family reunion last Saturday at UP Diliman’s Baseball Field. After four years, the UAAP Softball Tournament finally returned. And...

Advertisement