THE UST Tiger Softbelles fizzled against the unbeaten Adamson Lady Falcons, 5-1, marking their second consecutive loss in the second round of the UAAP Season 87 softball tournament at the Rizal Memorial Baseball Stadium on Tuesday, March 18.
UST slid to fourth place with a 2-4 record, while the reigning champion Adamson remained atop the standings, unbeaten in five games.
After tallying five hits in the first four innings, the Softbelles were held to just one hit in the last three innings by Adamson pitcher Glory Alonzo.
“Nag-collapse talaga. Maganda na ang start, akala ko na mag-all the way kaso nag collapse,” UST head coach Sandy Barredo told the Varsitarian.“Expected naman ‘yon para sa defending champions, alam naman natin na malakas ‘yan, pero we gave them a good fight.”
After three scoreless innings, Alaiza Talisik hit a sacrifice fly to center field in the top of the third inning, scoring rookie Jhaycel Roldan and putting Adamson ahead, 1-0.
UST immediately erased the deficit in the bottom of the same inning, with Genesis Degollacion’s base hit sending Lyca Blanco home to tie the score, 1-all.
After three solid innings on the mound, UST starting pitcher Mariela de la Cruz was relieved in the fourth by Celine Chang after allowing Adamson’s Mary Maguad and Mary Libaton to score, 3-1.
With the bases loaded in the top of the seventh, pinch hitter Roma Cruz notched a two-RBI double that allowed her teammates Roldan and Mea Tubongbanua to cross home plate and extend the lead, 5-1
The Softbelles had a chance to rally in the bottom of the same inning but to no avail as Adamson pitcher Glory Alonzo pitched a 1-2-3 inning to secure the victory.
In her season debut, De la Cruz allowed five hits and two earned runs, while Chang allowed two earned runs as UST’s offense was held to only six hits the entire game.
The UST Tiger Softbelles will seek their first win in the second round against the Ateneo Blue Eagles at the same venue on Tuesday, March 25 at 10 a.m.
