The UST Tiger Softbelles toppled the previously unbeaten University of the Philippines (UP) Fighting Maroons, 5-1, to close the first round of the UAAP Season 88 softball tournament on Tuesday, March 10, at Rizal Memorial Baseball Stadium.
The Tiger Softbelles dealt UP its first defeat of the season to force a tie at the top of the standings with identical 3-1 records.
The win also marked the Tiger Softbelles’ first victory over the Fighting Maroons since March 6, 2024, during their first meeting in UAAP Season 86.
UST pitcher Celine Chang anchored the win, limiting the potent UP offense to just three hits while allowing only one unearned run.
“Na-scout din namin kung paano sila pumalo,” head coach Sandy Barredo said.
UP, which previously tallied nine hits in another upset win over defending champion Adamson University, managed only three against Chang.
UST broke through in the third inning when Gen Degollacion lifted a sacrifice fly to right field to drive Erika Fernandez home.
The Tiger Softbelles widened the gap in the fifth inning as rookie Annarose Macatbag notched her second hit of the game before fellow newcomer Jaime Bueza drove her across the plate.
Macatbag finished with three hits, while Bueza tallied two hits and two runs batted in. Degollacion added another RBI in the sixth with a double that sent Helga Campos home.
The Fighting Maroons’ lone run came in the seventh inning when Angel Pascual’s double helped bring a runner home after an error by UST second baseman Ryza Zafra.
UP threatened to rally with the bases loaded and two outs, but the Tiger Softbelles held firm as Jojielyn Lim secured the final flyout to seal the victory.
The UAAP has yet to release the schedule for the second round as of writing.
