The UST Golden Sox held a narrow 8-7 lead over the University of the Philippines (UP) Fighting Maroons in their UAAP Season 88 second-round matchup when the game was halted due to darkness on Sunday, March 29, at the Rizal Memorial Baseball Stadium.
The game, which began at 2 p.m. and was stopped just minutes before 6 p.m., was marred by multiple controversial calls and ejections and will resume at a later date.
UST will have to hold firm on defense in the bottom of the ninth when play resumes to keep its Final Four hopes alive.
The Golden Sox struck first, taking a 2-0 lead heading into the third inning. But pitcher Irvin Llave issued a walk that loaded the bases, allowing UP to tie the game at 2-all after Razhley Santos and Kobe Torres scored.
UST regained control in the fifth inning when Ken Madrid delivered a liner to right field that drove in Tim Caldo and Ybbrahim Degollacion for a 5-3 lead.
However, the Golden Sox committed defensive miscues in the bottom half as Eljin Mendoza misplayed a fly ball and Harry Geronimo also committed an error behind the plate, enabling UP to take a 6-5 lead.
UST tied the game again in the top of the sixth after a sacrifice fly from Jesus Cabigao brought Cedrick Marquez home, 6-6.
But the Golden Sox were unable to capitalize on a bases-loaded chance as Caldo and Degollacion struck out and flied out, respectively.
In the bottom of the seventh, UP answered as Nano Asuncion’s hit to left field plated Daniel Badrina to retake the lead, 7-6.
Tensions escalated in the eighth inning when a controversial call involved UST head coach Jeffrey Santiago.
Santiago approached home plate umpire Ferdinand Alvarez to contest a supposed hit-by-pitch call on Cabigao but was ejected after allegedly making contact with the umpire.
Despite the setback, UST surged back in front as Cabigao delivered a clutch hit to left field, scoring Charlie Belgar, before Geronimo added an RBI that brought Cabigao home to make it 8-7.
The drama continued as another call went against the Golden Sox when Geronimo was ejected after intentionally failing to catch a pitch from Llave.
In the top of the ninth inning, another disputed play unfolded at home plate when the umpire could not determine whether Mendoza had scored safely or was tagged out, prompting UP to file a protest.
It was later ruled that Mendoza was tagged out at home.
No date has been set for the resumption, but the Golden Sox will next take on the Ateneo Blue Eagles on Sunday, April 5, at the same venue.
