THE UST Golden Sox suffered their second-straight defeat after faltering against the De La Salle University Green Batters, 21-5, in the UAAP Season 81 baseball tournament at the Rizal Memorial Stadium Wednesday.
UST slid to a 4-4 win-loss card for third place together with Adamson University, while La Salle rose to a 6-2 slate to tie Ateneo de Manila University at first place.
The Golden Sox still have a chance for a finals spot if they win their remaining games and if La Salle or Ateneo loses to their respective opponents.
Tied at 1 after the first inning, the Green Batters went on a scoring barrage, converting 13 combined runs in the next four innings courtesy of Kiko Gesmundo, Bill Evangelista, Stewart Park, Paolo Salud, Angelo Tantuico, Boo Barandiaran and Iggy Escaño, to blow the game wide open, 14-2.
La Salle put the finishing touches in the seventh inning, scoring seven runs via Paolo Casas, Joaquin Bilbao, Rafael Pascual, Adolfo Bilbao, Gabriel Pineda, Park and Gesmundo, 21-3.
UST drew first blood at the top of the first inning with a conversion by first baseman Vince Mangapis, 1-0.
La Salle registered 19 hits while the Golden Sox only had nine.
UST will try to halt its losing skid against defending champion Adamson on March 17, Sunday, at the same venue. with reports from Mark Darius M. Sulit
