In a grind out affair, the DLSU Green Batters were handed their first loss of the season by the ADMU Blue Eagles, 13-11, earlier today at the Rizal Memorial Baseball Stadium.
For the Blue Eagles, the rookie substitute Yoji Ueda provided the spark that would ultimately lift the Blue Eagles past DLSU, as he recorded five RBIs under his name. In the losing effort, Diego Lozano and Kiko Gesmundo displayed their power as they hit one home run each off of ADMU’s pitcher Miggy Angeles.
In the first inning of the match, the ADMU Blue Eagles drew first blood. With ADMU’s Marco Mallari on first base, Javi Macasaet sent a ball down the left field line for an RBI triple. Martin Tan then connected for an RBI single that put the Katipunan-based team up by two runs at the opening frame. The Green Batters responded by cutting the lead in half, courtesy of a Boo Barandiaran RBI double that sent Lozano home.
The succeeding innings were highly contested as both sides continued to score runs. However, in the sixth inning, the Green-and-White threatened to pull away as the leadoff hitter Lozano drilled one over the outfield wall for a solo home run. With Ignacio Escaño in scoring position, Paolo Salud connected for an RBI single that put DLSU up by three runs, 8-5.
The seventh inning saw the Blue Eagles surmount the Lasallian lead as they converted six runs, which was highlighted by a base-clearing triple by Ueda.
As the succeeding innings went by without DLSU scoring runs, the chances for a comeback were getting slimmer and slimmer. However, the Green Batters showed their grit as they gave ADMU a late-game scare. With Lozano at first base and Barandiaran at second, a determined Gesmundo sent Angeles’ pitch over the wall for a three-run home run that cut the deficit to two. Despite this offensive resurgence, the Blue Eagles held their ground and won the game, 13-11.
Although the Green Batters were unable to come away with the win, head coach Joseph Orillana still saw bright spots in today’s match. “Happy ako sa performance nila kasi lumaban sila hanggang sa uli,” he shared.
(I’m happy with their performance because they fought until the very end.)
The Green Batters are looking to bounce back in a match against the UST Growling Tigers on Wednesday, February 27, at the same venue.
