THE ATENEO de Manila University Blue Batters inched closer to regaining the title they lost last year after a 9-2 win against the UST Golden Sox in Game 1 of the UAAP Season 79 baseball finals at the Rizal Memorial Stadium Tuesday.
Ateneo took advantage of UST’s faulty pitching, tallying three runs all off walks in the third inning before pulling away for good with a four-run sixth inning.
Leading 4-1 going into the sixth, the Blue Batters converted four runs behind Daniel Laurel, Jose Maria Tantuico, Dino Altomonte and Conrado Banzon for a seven-point advantage.
“Off ang hitting gawa ng examination week, malaki ang epekto nun dahil hindi sila nakakafocus sa ensayo. Kaya makuha ang game two, babalikan namin sila next game,” UST head coach Jeffrey Santiago told the Varsitarian.
The Blue Batters drew first blood in the second inning behind Christopher Hilario’s run before UST equalized in the following inning with a Marlon Gonzalez conversion, 1-1.
UST, which went scoreless from the fourth to sixth innings, tallied its final point after Gonzales reached home plate anew in the seventh, 2-8.
The Golden Sox will try to force a rubber match in Game 2 on March 24, Friday, 12 noon, at the same venue.
