Coming off a loss last Sunday, the DLSU Green Batters emphatically bounced back as they defeated the NU Bulldogs, 9-8, in a thrilling come-from-behind victory, yesterday at the Rizal Memorial Baseball Diamond.
In a game that was mostly led by the Bulldogs, La Salle showed grit and character in its ability to stay close and keep fighting in the midst of adversity. The saying goes, “it isn’t over till it’s over,” and for today, both teams took this saying to heart to combine for one memorable game.
“Trust the process,” were Diego Lozano’s words after the game, when asked how his team was able to overcome the late deficit. He added, “It was just like what our coach told us, score one run at a time, like focus on what we’re doing now, don’t think of what’s going to happen on Sunday against ADMU, just think of this game.” The pitcher, who closed the game, continued by emphasizing the importance of this win, saying, “It’s really crucial because we needed to bounce back from our last loss.”
Lozano and Ignacio Escaño both hit home runs to lead the La Salle comeback, while Kiko Gesmundo pitched some strong innings to keep the Green Batters within striking distance. On the other side, it was Junmar Diarao who carried the team in white, throwing more than a hundred pitches in the losing effort. The entire Bulldog offense was productive, but its output proved to be just short against the defending champions.
Back-and-forth early on
Initially, it was NU that asserted its dominance, jumping out to a 2-0 lead at the bottom of the third inning, with RBIs from Malit and de Guzman.
Both pitchers would trade one-two-three innings, but it was DLSU that was finally able to break through, when a Tuwi Park bloop hit fell in between the shortstop and the left fielder to plate the team’s first run. La Salle would continue its momentum in the seventh inning, when a sacrifice fly by Lozano gave the Taft-based squad its first lead, 3-2.
The Bulldogs, however, would immediately respond with a four-run bottom of the inning, strengthened by a Villalobos double that resulted in three runs for NU. Though Escaño was able to get a run back with a monstrous home run to left center field, the team in white subsequently scored again, this time through a passed ball, to enter the final inning in front.
DLSU comeback
Trailing 7-4 with only three outs left, the team in green was able to gut out four runs against NU’s Diarao in an incredible rally. Highlighted by a towering two-run home run by Lozano to right field, DLSU never lost hope in its comeback attempt.
Remembering his home run, Lozano said that he was just trying to keep his approach simple, saying, “The only thing I remember was the pitch coming into me. I just remembered how coach taught me how to swing, waiting for the curve ball, then there it went.”
After a succeeding Park single gave the Green Batters the lead, 8-7, it seemed as if the team was on its way to a victory. Villalobos, however, produced yet again for the Bulldogs, perfectly placing a bunt that scored de Guzman after an errant throw.
Though the game extended into the tenth inning, DLSU made sure it wasn’t going any longer. Following a Geoff Magsadia lead-off triple, Paul Naguit immediately drove him in with a hit to give La Salle a 9-8 victory. Despite NU’s continued fight until the last out, Lozano made sure the Green Batters came away the victors, closing the door on the Bulldogs.
Looking ahead
Errors plagued both teams throughout the game as many of the runs scored were deemed unearned. It was also a team effort for DLSU, as all but two of its players played a role in the win. While La Salle did win this game, it will have to get off to better starts if it wishes to even make it back to the finals this year.
Wanting to continue their momentum, the Green Batters will resume action on Sunday, February 19, against last year’s runner-up, the ADMU Blue Eagles.
Looking forward to Sunday, Lozano said that he and the entire team are excited to face their rival, explaining, “They’re obviously hungry to beat us, so now, hopefully we come out stronger than we did the past two games and beat them.”
