THE UST Tiger Softbelles succumbed to the unscathed Adamson Lady Falcons, 4-1, to conclude the elimination round of the UAAP Season 86 Softball Tournament at the UP Diliman Baseball Field on Wednesday, April 3.
After eight matches, UST figured in a tie with the UP Fighting Maroons with 5-3 win-loss records.
They will go head-to-head for a playoff for the last finals spot at the same venue on April 6, Saturday at 4 p.m. The winner will face the Lady Falcons in the finals.
Adamson’s Roma Cruz put the Lady Falcons ahead early in the top of the second inning after hitting a two-RBI triple that plated Angela Ganriel and Mary Maguad, 2-0
Another triple this time by Mary Libaton in the top of the fourth sent Ned Mahinay and Khrisha Cantor home for a comfortable 4-0 lead.
After four quiet innings, UST’s Charlotte Sales hit an RBI double in the bottom of the fifth to score Erika Fernandez and put UST on the scoreboard, 4-1.
In the bottom of the sixth inning, a sacrifice bunt by UST’s Helga Campos advanced Mharnie de la Cruz and Christine Bautista in scoring positions, while Royevel Palma managed a walk against fellow ace Glory Alonzo to put the tying run on first and load the bases.
Adamson then relieved Alonzo with April Minanga to face Lyca Blanco with the bases loaded.
Blanco fought valiantly against April Minanga, forcing five foul balls in the at-bat, until the former was struck out looking with a fastball down at the knees and leaving the bases stranded.
Minanga closed the show for Adamson in the bottom of the seventh after forcing Fernandez, Sales and Shyla Celis to consecutive flyouts.
“Errors lang, a bunch of errors today. Maganda naman pitching ni Kikay (Palma) today, tinatamaan pa rin pero dinedepensa naman,” UST head coach Sandy Barredo told the Varsitarian.
Despite the loss, Barredo said that there will be minimal changes in the Tiger Softbelles’ batting lineup ahead of their tiebreaker against UP.
“Same pa rin. Same lineup. Same format,” he said. “May changes lang na gagawin sa batting order.”
