THE UST Tiger Softbelles toppled the Ateneo Blue Eagles, 10-2, to open their second round campaign in the UAAP Season 86 softball tournament at the UP Diliman Baseball Field on Wednesday, March 13.
UST remained in second place with a 4-1 win-loss record, while Ateneo remained winless in five games.
Lyca Blanco gave UST an early 1-0 lead in the bottom of the first inning after reaching home on an Angela Solidarios sacrifice bunt.
Ateneo then tied the game at 1-all in the top of the second after a pass ball that plated Rochelle Dacutan.
However, UST responded in the bottom of the second inning with a five-run rally courtesy of rookies Helga Campos and Mae Teves, alongside Erika Fernandez, Blanco and her younger sister Teresa, 6-1.
Blue Eagle Julia Cruz reaped one in the top of the third after her RBI triple plated Rocio Macasaet, 6-2.
In the bottom of the third, Campos hit the Tiger Softbelles’ first inside-the-park home run of the season to extend UST’s lead to five, 7-2
Team captain Christine Bautista, Charlotte Sales and Fernandez drove in three more runs in the bottom sixth to virtually seal the deal for UST via the mercy rule, 10-2.
UST rookie pitcher Eireel Baladjay, who was benched in the first round, allowed only one run and one walk after pitching two innings in her UAAP debut.
Mariela de la Cruz relieved Baladjay in the fourth allowing one run and striking out one Ateneo batter, while Celine Chang closed the game off with a flyout and two strikeouts.
“We gave chance to others na hindi nakalaro noong first round,” UST assistant coach Esmeralda Tayag told the Varsitarian. “Nagpakitang gilas naman sila. Sa offense, maganda ‘yung hitting nila, paakyat ‘yung hitting nila.”
The UST Tiger Softbelles will next face the DLSU Lady Batters at the same venue on Wednesday, March 20, at 3 p.m. with reports from Rainel Angelyn B. Figueroa
