THE UST Golden Sox’s misery continued as they succumbed to the UP Fighting Maroons, 7-2, to close out the first round of the UAAP Season 87 baseball tournament at Rizal Memorial Baseball Stadium on Wednesday, March 26.
Since their opening win against Ateneo, the Golden Sox have lost four in a row to log their worst start since Season 85 in 2023, when they ended the round winless through five games.
They are now tied with Ateneo (1-4) for fifth place, while UP climbed to 2-2 to tie with Adamson for third.
“Medyo kinakabahan pa at natutulala pa e,” UST head coach Jeffrey Santiago told the Varsitarian. “Nadepensahan lang ang mga palo. At saka medyo off din ang mga palo namin. Ang hitting medyo nawala nang kaunti.”
The Golden Sox struggled to find their rhythm in the top of the first inning, limited to one hit on four at-bats, while UP registered three runs with Ian Mercado, Aaron Nicha, and Val Mangahas crossing the plate in the bottom half for a 3-0 lead.
Harry Geronimo put UST on the scoreboard in the top of the second, but Jose Cahilo scored off Nicha’s run-batted-in (RBI) to maintain the Fighting Maroons’ three-run edge, 4-1.
UST starting pitcher Jesus Cabigao gave up a run in the fourth inning before being relieved by Geronimo in the fifth, when UP scored once more to lead 6-1.
UP pitcher Kennedy Torres prevented the Golden Sox from gaining momentum, stifling them from the third to the sixth innings.
With three outs left in the seventh inning, the Golden Sox tried to inch closer after team captain Mhigeil Cerda’s hit drove De Leon home, but they could not trim the gap as Cabigao and Marquez flew out on their respective at-bats, leaving the score at 6-2.
UP answered back immediately in the bottom of the same inning when Mercado reached home plate for a 7-2 lead, before both teams went scoreless in the final two innings.
“A lot of adjustments, sa lahat ng aspeto. Kailangan din ng swerte pati ‘yong puso,” Santiago said.
“Meron pa namang limang games, hindi pa natin alam kung ano ang mangyayari. Baka sakaling makapasok pa sa top four. Hindi tayo mawalan ng pag-asa.”
The league has yet to release the schedule for the second round. Clyde Leanne M. Salamatin
