UP erupts late, snags share of fourth with Ateneo in UAAP Men’s Baseball

University of the Philippines flexed its muscles late in the game, blowing out Ateneo de Manila University, 15–4, to take a share of fourth in the UAAP Season 88 Collegiate Men’s Baseball Tournament on Wednesday at the Rizal Memorial Baseball Stadium in Malate, Manila.

Up by just one run entering the final three innings, the Fighting Maroons erupted for 11 runs to follow up their upset of the National University Bulldogs, 4–3, just last Sunday and notch their second straight win.

Rookie catcher Chimelle Manabat drove a scorching liner through the middle, scoring Daniel Badrina and giving UP a 5–3 lead at the end of the seventh inning.

That slim two-run advantage soon ballooned to eight, as the Fighting Maroons produced six runs in the eighth, finally converting their hits into points. Five hits, highlighted by a massive two-RBI single from national team upstart Razhley Santos, fueled the rally and pushed the lead to an insurmountable 11–4.

Four more runs in the ninth virtually sealed the win, with Badrina hitting a huge triple that drove in two of those runs, as UP finished the game with 20 hits.

(C) UAAP Season 88 Media Team

“Actually, naging motivation ‘yung laro namin against NU. Alam naman natin na powerhouse ‘yung NU, so, ‘yun talaga naging motivation namin dito rin sa laro against Ateneo. Sabi namin, malakas din ‘tong Ateneo, kaya sabi namin, ilaro lang natin, ilabas lang natin,” said Iking Jimenez.

“Ang ganda nung nilaro nila, ‘yung pitcher is nag-step up, kasi ‘yun ‘yung kulang namin eh. Nag-step siya, ‘yung fielding, ‘yung hitting, nagsabay-sabay na. Kaya ganito rin ‘yung outcome,” the second-year mentor added.

Bokie Claro redeemed himself after a shaky outing against NU, pitching a complete game and allowing only three earned runs on six hits while striking out eight batters from the fourth through the ninth inning.

UP now shares fourth place with Ateneo, both holding identical 3–5 win-loss records in the tournament, which is held in partnership with the Philippine Sports Commission.

The Fighting Maroons will seek a third consecutive win when they face the University of Santo Tomas Golden Sox in Sunday’s third and final game.

(C) UAAP Season 88 Media Team

Ateneo managed to capitalize on limited scoring opportunities, taking two runs in the fifth inning to narrow the gap to 3–4.

Two walks issued by Claro to Mikaelo Osorio and Alfonso Tueres were converted into runs, with an RBI single from Francis Mendoza scoring Osorio, followed by a double from Luis Gabriel Magsadia that sent Tueres home.

However, the six runs allowed by Zane Prades in the eighth inning proved too much for Ateneo to overcome, compounded by 10 fielding errors.

The Blue Eagles will try to stop their slide when they face the reigning back-to-back champions, the NU Bulldogs, in Sunday’s second game.