THE UST Tiger Softbelles succumbed to eight-time defending champion Adamson University Lady Falcons, 7-1, in the UAAP Season 81 softball tournament at the Rizal Memorial Stadium Thursday.
UST tied the University of the Philippines for fourth place behind a 4-4 win-loss card while Adamson remained unscathed in seven outings.
“At least tatlo lang ang na strikeout sa amin at tumatama naman kaso tumatapat lang sa depensa kaya magpa-practice lang kami sa Saturday, magko-concentrate kami sa batting,” Softbelles head coach Sandy Barredo told the Varsitarian.
Adamson opened the game with two conversions by Joy Maguad and Arianne Vallestero off runs-batted-in by Vallestero and Nichole Padasas, respectively, 2-0.
The Lady Falcons added four more runs in the third inning courtesy of Jeanette Rusia, Remilie Herrero and Angelu Gabriel.
With the Softbelles needing to score to avoid mercy rule in the fifth inning, Trisha Tiozon brought Dezza Barredo to home plate after a left-field-fly RBI single, 1-7.
UST captain Celyn Ojare then took over, not allowing a run in the last two innings to evade a mercy rule loss.
UST pitchers Ojare and Irene Lumanas held Adamson to nine hits and six sluggers were left on base.
The Tiger Softbelles will try to bounce back against the UP Lady Maroons on March 11, Monday, 9 a.m., at the same venue
