THE UST Golden Sox conquered the Adamson Soaring Falcons for the first time in six years in an 11-9 win in their UAAP Season 86 baseball tournament second-round encounter at the UP Diliman Baseball Field on Thursday, March 14.
The victory marked UST’s first win against the Soaring Falcons since Feb. 14, 2018, during the first round of Season 81.
UST rose to a 4-2 win-loss slate and pushed down Adamson to a 2-4 record.
Trailing DLSU by one in the top of the sixth inning, 3-2, the Golden Sox unleashed an eight-run barrage courtesy of Steven Dominguez, Mhigeil Cerda, John Vargas, Alwyn Piñero, Justin Rosales, Harry Geronimo, Steven De Leon and John Barsales to lead by seven, 10-3.
The Soaring Falcons inched closer with five runs in the bottom sixth, but Mark Cabase sealed the win for UST with one more in the top of the seventh inning.
While the team showed out on offense, UST head coach Jeffrey Santiago said the Golden Sox needed to display mental toughness.
“Hindi nakatuwa e, kasi pumasok ng dalawang out, pumasok ng lima,” Santiago told the Varsitarian. “Tapos hindi masyado nagkokonekta ang team, dahil lang sa error ng kalaban kung bakit nakakapasok.”
“Kinakailangan mentally and physically conditioned. A lot of things to improve, yung mental toughness. Nawawala sa presence of mind kaya bumibigay.”
Vargas scored two runs on two hits, while pitcher Irvin Llave led UST’s defense, limiting the Soaring Falcons to one run in the last three innings.
The Golden Sox will next face the UP Fighting Maroons at the same venue on March 17, Sunday, at 3 p.m. with reports from Patrice Jerica A. Beltran
