THE UST Junior Golden Sox forced a do-or-die Game 3 for the title, after a 7-3 victory against defending champions Ateneo de Manila University Blue Eaglets at the UAAP boys’ baseball finals at the Rizal Memorial Stadium Manila Saturday.
The Junior Golden Sox tied the series after the Blue Eaglets fell short in the last inning with Daniel Fabella’s lone run.
“Na-pressure ‘yong mga bata kaya sabi ko ‘learn to relax’. Na-control namin ‘yong batters ng Ateneo dahil dito sa pitcher ko. Ni-reserve ko talaga sila for this game,” UST coach Jeffrey Santiago told the Varsitarian.
Ateneo drew first blood when Fabella and Marcel Guzman converted runs in the first and early in the third inning, 2-0.
All the bases were loaded in the third set when Blue Eaglet pitcher Zachary Urbina’s errors sent Diesta, Jester Tapia and Alwyn Peñero home, giving UST the lead, 3-2.
UST widened the gap with Kenth Porras’ center field grounder that pushed Justine Rosales to score a run.
Blue Eaglet Matthew San Juan’s pitching errors also allowed Porras to the home plate, 5-2.
Golden Sox Peñero converted a run through Bryan Camarsi’s fly ball hit after Diesta scored due to an Ateneo wild pitch in the sixth inning.
The Junior Golden Sox’s final match against the Ateneo Blue Eaglets is on Oct. 29, Tuesday, 9 a.m. at the same venue.
