UAAP: Green Batters fall to ADMU in regular season finale

The DLSU Green Batters dropped a marathon of a game against the Ateneo Blue Eagles, 19-16, in their final regular season game last Sunday, March 6, at the Rizal Memorial Baseball Diamond.

With both teams already clinching a spot in the Finals, this game essentially had no bearing but as infielder Josh Salinas verbalized, “No game against Ateneo is meaningless.”

La Salle struck quickly as Ignacio Escano drove in Diego Lozano with a sacrifice fly in the bottom of the first inning. The Blue Eagles, however, were able to respond immediately as they tied the game at 1 in the next inning, a trend that would continue throughout the game.

After Josh Salinas, Paul Naguit, and Franco Hashimoto all walked to load the bases, a single from Pao Salud and a subsequent wild pitch allowed two Green Batters to cross the plate. Trailing by two, Ateneo was quick to answer back as Tionloc hit a 3-RBI double to right field. Alindongan then drove in Tionloc to extend the ADMU lead to two. The lead, however, was cut in half by DLSU through a bases-loaded walk by Hashimoto. The Blue Eagles led by a single point, 5-4, at the end of three innings.

With new pitcher Nacho Lozano in for Ateneo, the Taft-based squad went on a four-run rally in the fifth inning. To start the inning, Salinas was able to reach on an error by Javi Macasaet. After an ensuing Naguit single, Hashimoto stroked a 2-RBI double to left-center field to give DLSU the lead. Salud then drove him in to tack on another run. After a stolen base and an Alindongan error that allowed him to get to third base, Salud scored on a wild pitch to extend the lead to three, 8-5.

In the sixth inning, both teams gave away runs because of sloppy play. ADMU’s Balagtas was able to score after a Hashimoto error and an Arvin Herrera wild pitch allowed him to round the bases. In the bottom half of the frame, Salinas, who reached base with a single, reached home after consecutive Ateneo errors.

In the top of the seventh, the Katipunan-based squad showed some fight. After Tionloc was hit by a pitch and J. Macasaet reached a single, Alindongan lay down a perfect bunt to load the bases. A wild pitch and 2-RBI double from Furasawa were enough to tie the game at 9.

In the bottom of the inning, DLSU was granted three runs from more careless play. After Boo Barandiaran scored on a wild pitch, a Hilario error allowed two more Green Batters to cross the plate, giving them a 12-9 lead after seven innings.

In the very next inning, Ateneo snatched the lead right back. In the inning, Gino Tantuico and J. Altomonte both scored off DLSU errors, while Enzo Orbeta and Furasawa were each able to hit RBI singles to give ADMU the one-run lead.

This time, it was La Salle’s turn to fight back. After Palacios was hit by a pitch and advanced to third on successive wild pitches, he scored off another Ateneo error. With the bases loaded, with two outs and a full count, Salinas had the chance to give the Green Batters the lead. Paulo Macasaet, however, was able to strike him out and keep the game tied going into the ninth inning.

In the ninth inning, it looked like Ateneo had finally hit the knockout punch. The Blue Eagles were able to score three runs, highlighted by a well-timed Javi Macasaet steal of home. DLSU looked like they were headed for a loss but Joaquin Bilbao, Lozano, and Barandiaran were all able to reach base to give the team one last chance to tie the game. With two outs, Tuwi Park hit a clutch 3-RBI double that tied the game at 16. A game that was already went on for four and a half hours was headed to extra innings.

In the tenth inning, ADMU finally did enough to put away the Green Batters. Errors and wild pitches continued to plague DLSU, and Ateneo made them pay for it, scoring three runs in the inning. The Blue Eagle pitchers were finally able to close out La Salle in the bottom half of the inning, giving them the 19-16 victory.

Errors and wild pitches were thrown throughout the game, something that was very uncharacteristic of both teams. DLSU and ADMU continually subbed players in and out due to the fact that this game did not have any impact on both teams’ Finals hopes. Both coaches tried their best to give their players rest, but at the same time, keep them in rhythm for the Finals. Along with this, both teams will have to play much crisper and try to limit their errors if they hope to come out as this year’s champion.

With a regular season record of 7-3, the Green Batters have earned a spot in the Best-of-Three Finals against Ateneo, who end the season at 9-1. The first two games of the finals will occur this Friday and Monday, respectively, while Game 3, if necessary, will be held on Friday, March 18. All games will be played at the Rizal Memorial Baseball Diamond.