The UST Junior Golden Sox dominated the Ateneo Blue Eagles, 12-4, to keep their finals hopes alive in the UAAP Season 88 high school boys’ baseball tournament on Wednesday, Feb. 11, at Rizal Memorial Stadium.
UST now sits in a three-way tie for second place with PAREF Southridge and De La Salle Zobel, all with 4-3 records. The top two teams will compete in the finals.
It was the Junior Golden Sox’s first win of the second round after back-to-back losses to La Salle Zobel and National University.
Pitcher Eugene Hermozura anchored the Junior Golden Sox in a complete-game effort, holding Ateneo to just one hit while striking out 11 batters.
UST held a slim 4-2 lead in the fifth inning before pulling away with a decisive eight-run surge to seal the game, finishing with 18 hits off Raffy Blaza.
Isaiah Tolentino led the UST offense with four hits in six at-bats and four runs, while second baseman Jess De Leon had a triple and three RBIs in the seventh inning that sent Tolentino, Van Ibabao and Joem Paragas home.
UST needs a win against Southridge in its next game to return to the finals. A loss will end its campaign.
The Junior Golden Sox will face Southridge on Saturday, Feb. 14, at the same venue.
