08 February 2013, 01:19 a.m. – THE UST Golden Sox lived to fight another day after outlasting top-ranked Ateneo de Manila University, 17-14, to close the elimination round of the UAAP baseball tournament at the Rizal Memorial Stadium Thursday afternoon.
UST will have to defeat defending champion National University to book a ticket to the Finals against Ateneo. Game time is 9 a.m. Sunday at the same venue.
Following a fiery offense to open the match (8-4), the Espana-based sluggers conceded seven runs at the bottom of the fourth inning where the Eagles took a three-point advantage, 8-11. Veteran Matt Laurel capped the Ateneo run with an RBI (Runs Batted In) double off a line drive connection.
The sixth inning saw the Golden Sox unleashing eight runs to reclaim the lead, 16-11, and eventually seal the win.
“We overcame the odds considering that our team was hit with several injuries. (Bernardo) Siaotong injured his knee while (Christian) Mercado was out due to chicken pox,” coach Jeffrey Santiago said.
“We just need our pitchers to deliver and strengthen the fighting spirit of players,” Santiago said.”If we win, there’s going to be a different story by the time we face Ateneo in the Finals.”
