THE UST Tiger Softbelles pulled off a slim victory against the UP Fighting Maroons, 1-0, in the UAAP Season 86 softball tournament at the UP Diliman Baseball Field on Wednesday, March 6.
After an error by Helga Campos that placed UP’s Jammin Rasco on base, UST team captain Christine Bautista fielded Revel Caogdan and Rica Vispo’s consecutive fly balls to seal the shutout win for the Softbelles.
UST had early chances with Lyca Blanco and Shyla Celis in scoring positions in the first and second innings, respectively, but both were squandered by UP’s defense with flyouts.
At the top of the third inning, UST’s Erika Fernandez hit a triple, forcing Charlotte Sales to bat a sacrifice fly and drive Fernandez home, 1-0.
UP’s Jammin Rasco got into scoring position in the bottom of the fifth inning, but was left stranded after UST ace Royevel Palma struck out Martine Francisco and Campos captured Laica Atlas’ pop fly ball.
Campos looked to extend UST’s lead in the top of the seventh after multiple throwing errors by Up but was thrown out attempting to steal home.
Palma pitched an outstanding shutout game striking out four Lady Maroons while allowing no walks and two hits.
“Alam naming powerhouse din ‘yung UP kasi sila ‘yung silver dati,” Palma told the Varsitarian. “Pero ang mindset lang talaga namin is gagawin lang namin ‘yung lahat para kung ano mang outcome, wala kaming regrets,”
“Hopefully yung performances namin hindi pababa, and if ever, i-maintain para sana tuloy-tuloy ‘yung panalo namin.”
The UST Tiger Softbelles will next face the DLSU Lady Batters at the same venue on Saturday, March 9, at 3 p.m.
