THE UST Tiger Softbelles claimed bronze in the UAAP Season 87 softball tournament after outlasting the DLSU Green Batters, 8-7, at the Rizal Memorial Baseball Stadium on Tuesday, April 1.
The Softbelles secured third place for the third straight season, pushing DLSU out of the podium for the first time since Season 81. UST’s podium streak traces back to Season 75 in 2013, when it finished third with a 5-4 record.
Down 8-4 in the top of the sixth inning, DLSU rallied back as multiple hits drove Glecilyn Alipato, Jasmin Visaya, and Julianne Moral home, cutting UST’s lead to one with three outs left, 8-7.
Although a Genesis Degollacion leadoff error put DLSU’s April Gonzales on base in the top of the seventh, UST pitcher Celine Chang stayed composed on the mound, forcing three consecutive flyouts to secure the medal for the Tiger Softbelles.
UST head coach Sandy Barredo praised Chang for delivering under pressure.
“Sabi ko ‘yong pressure andiyan ‘yan pero lahat ‘yan sayo magmumula,” Barredo told the Varsitarian. “Kung susunod ka sa amin, kung ano ipupukol mo magwo-work ‘yan. Buti naman nag-work, sunod-sunod.”
UST came out swinging with Erika Fernandez’s inside-the-park home run — her second of the season — that also plated Lyca Blanco and gave the Softbelles an early 2-0 lead.
With Royeve Palma and Anne Patricio on base in the same inning, Helga Campos doubled the lead by squaring up DLSU starting pitcher Joerjette Jordan’s pitch to right field for a two-runs-batted-in (RBI) double, 4-0.
DLSU got on the board in the second inning, 4-1, after Visaya’s RBI double plated Alipato.
Errors hounded the Softbelles in the top of the third, as a crucial throwing error from Anne Patricio allowed DLSU to tie the game in one play, with Labargan, Jeryll Duller and Cassandra Inot reaching home plate, 4-all.
However, Patricio redeemed herself in the bottom of the same inning, hitting an inside-the-park home run that also scored Jojielyn Lim, 6-4.
Fernandez continued her scoring spree in the bottom of the fourth with a two-RBI single that plated Blanco and Mae Teves, 8-4.
The Green Batters had a three-run surge in the top of the sixth, making it a one-point game at 8-7, but failed to capitalize in the seventh, as Chang limited them to a single hit before forcing three straight flyouts to seal UST’s victory.
“Nagkakumpiyansa naman ako kasi ‘yong mga bata may palo. Kahit sinong i-tap ko, magde-deliver naman,” Barredo said.
Tiger Softbelles Teresa and Lyca Blanco alongside Fernandez, Bedaño, and Palma are set to graduate this year.
