February 4, 2016, 1:49p.m. – THE UST Golden Sox upended the University of the Philippines Fighting Maroons, 5-4, in their maiden game in the UAAP Season 78 baseball tournament at the Rizal Memorial Stadium Thursday.
The Golden Sox banked on their improved offense and defense to claw their way back from 0-3 start.
UST sealed the victory after Max Mercardo’s single run-batted-in (RBI) at the top of the eighth inning that sent Kirk Daquis to the home plate.
Golden Sox pitcher Lesmar Ventura struck out all UP batters in the last two innings.
UST had the lead at the seventh inning, 4-3, after Gio Martinez nailed an RBI which gave way to a Julius Diaz run. But UP scored off a Miguel San Juan RBI to put the match on a deadlock, 4-all.
The Fighting Maroons punished UST offensively with early conversions from Mark Tuballas, James Legaspi, and San Juan in the opening and the third inning.
UST retaliated with two runs courtesy of rookie Julius Diaz and Marlon Gonzalez at the top of the fifth inning, 2-3.
“Sabi ko sa kanila it’s God’s grace. Nasa kondisyon ang mga bata. Maganda ang hitting nila at ang pitching natin maganda. May mga error lang talaga,” head coach Jeffrey Santiago told the Varsitarian. “[Pero] kompiyansa ako na ang mga bata patuloy na magpe-perform ng maganda dito sa UAAP.”
The Golden Sox will face Adamson University on February 7, Sunday, at the same venue. Carlo A. Casingcasing
