THE UST Tiger Softbelles squandered a five-run lead and yielded to the National University Lady Bulldogs, 6-9, in the UAAP Season 81 softball tournament at the Rizal Memorial Stadium Thursday.
Trailing 1-6, NU used a huge sixth inning, scoring six runs courtesy of Pearly Lorca, Cristy Arribas, Rhea Rosales, Rose Banatao, Nicole Ordoyo and Mariel Gacias, to take the lead, 7-6.
“Bumigay ang pitchers namin noong sixth inning, dalawa lang ‘yan (tapos) pareho ‘di nagdeliver, sa kanila lahat na-credit ang hits ng Adamson” UST head coach Sandy Barredo told the Varsitarian.
The Lady Bulldogs then made two insurance runs in the seventh inning via Banatao’s center field grounder.
The Softbelles scored two runs in the second inning, courtesy of Lealyn Guevarra and Dezza Barredo due to NU’s fielding errors. Jessiel Belaño added another run off an Irene Lumanas run-batted-in double, 3-1.
The Softbelles gained their biggest lead of the game after RBIs by Charlotte Sales and Tin Palma in the fourth inning that sent Hanna de la Torre, Mharnie de la Cruz and Sales back to home base, 6-1.
NU registered 13 hits, including eight in the sixth inning, compared to UST’s nine.
The Softbelles slid to a 1-1 win-loss record while NU rose to 2-1.
UST will next face the De La Salle University Lady Batters on Feb. 23, Saturday, 11 a.m., at the same venue.
