UAAP: Green Batters overpower Ateneo, UP

Since losing their tournament opener to the NU Bulldogs, the DLSU Green Batters have won five consecutive games, with statement wins over the Ateneo Blue Eagles and the UP Fighting Maroons capping off another successful week for last season’s runners-up.

Last Thursday, February 18, reigning UAAP Rookie of the Year Boo Barandiaran displayed a full arsenal of high-speed pitching that dealt Ateneo their first loss of the season, 14-7, and forged a tie for the top spot in the team standings at the end of the first round.

With a combined 21 hits and 12 errors between both teams yesterday, February 21, the Green Batters capitalized on UP’s error-prone field play, bringing home five runs in the eighth inning alone in a 14-5 win in their second round opener at the Rizal Memorial Diamond.

Wreaking havoc on the champions

Right off the bat, DLSU quickly scored two early runs during the first inning last February 18 courtesy of Paolo Salud and Diego Lozano. On the defensive end, DLSU relied on proper execution and solid team play to keep Ateneo scoreless. The Green Batters continued their rally by scoring two more runs in the second inning. This time around, it was Lozano and Franco Hashimoto inflicting damage on the Ateneo infield. However, the Blue Eagles would not go down without a fight, as they scored a single run to end their drought.

Barandiaran and catcher Paul Naguit proved to be a problem for Ateneo throughout the game. ADMU hitters Gino Tantuico and Ryon Tionloc would be no match for the second-year pitcher. The pitcher-catcher connection of DLSU also caught the attention of the crowd as they were making efficient decisions throughout the game.

The latter part of the game featured some heroic plays from the feisty Naguit when he forced several Ateneo players out with his quick decision making. In addition to that, he managed to create space for his teammates on offense when he hit the ball towards the right-field, allowing his team to score a double play during the eighth inning.

With DLSU hanging on to a close 6-5 lead through seven innings, the Green Batters finally pulled away in the eighth inning with a barrage of runs. With two runners on base, Ignacio Escaño drove in a two-run double that ignited the DLSU run. After a single by Cholo Dominguez and a walk by Naguit, the bases were loaded with Joshua Salinas at bat. Successive hits by Salinas, Hashimoto, and Salud would give DLSU a commanding 13-5 lead, as the Green Batters brought in seven runs in the eighth inning alone.

By the final inning, Ateneo managed to salvage the result by scoring two runs courtesy of Marquis Alindogan and Rapho Balagtas, before DLSU relieved Barandiaran of pitching by bringing in rookie Alvin Herrera. Herrera then secured the game with a strikeout off ADMU batter Furuwasa.

After the game, Barandiaran wound up with eight strikeouts, half of which came from the crucial final innings. However, he was quick to point out that although the game was important given the implications to the team standings, he asserted that the team must not let up its intensity coming into the second round.

“We’re in this tournament to win it. We know we can, so we’re really trying our best,” he said.

As the team approaches the crucial stages of the tournament, Barandiaran assured that they are fully focused on their goal of winning the title, adding that they cannot relax at this point in the competition.

Meanwhile, DLSU head coach Joseph Orillana was happy that the Green Batters were able to execute well in their victory over their archrivals, as he acknowledged the team’s aggressiveness defensively and offensively.

“Nandyan na yung skills, ang kailangan nilang handaan ang mental game and heart, puso,” he said. “Mas importante ang second round kasi di na papayagan ng ibang teams na manalo lang.”

Converting UP’s errors

The Green Batters opened yesterday’s game by scoring three runs while conceding only one, as Carl Miñana made his first pitching appearance of the season. However, DLSU would be held scoreless through the third, fourth, and fifth innings while holding a close 4-1 lead. It was during the sixth inning that the Green Batters would finally hit their stride, bringing in three more runs off base hits by Lozano, Barandiaran, and Escaño.

By the bottom of the sixth inning, a resilient UP team countered with a rally of their own, relying on costly errors by the DLSU infield that forced Orilliana to bring Herrera in for Miñana with the bases loaded. The Green Batters managed to limit UP to one run by the end of the inning.

It was during the eighth inning when DLSU put the game out of reach with their five runs, highlighted by a triple base hit by pinch hitter Quito Castro. Likewise, the Fighting Maroons would commit consecutive errors on defense that only added to the surging Green Batters’ cause. Pitcher Carlos Muñoz returned to the mound after sustaining a shoulder injury during the first round of the season, closing the game by pitching a grounder to first to secure the final out and the DLSU win.

Following fierce rival Ateneo’s 6-3 win against UST earlier in the day, the Green Batters and the Blue Eagles remain tied at first place, with both teams posting identical 5-1 win-loss records. Meanwhile, the UP Fighting Maroons dropped to 0-6 on the season.

The Green Batters will try to extend their winning streak to six games when they take on the UST Growling Tigers on Thursday, February 25, still at the Rizal Memorial Baseball Field.