The DLSU Green Batters displayed offensive mastery to take down the AdU Soaring Falcons, 14-6, earlier today, March 19, at the Rizal Memorial Baseball Stadium. Despite momentum shifting throughout the game, the Taft-based squad’s late-game execution, clutch batting, and strategic defense allowed them to assert command.
Early field dominance
In a determined effort to secure another win, Barry Oñas set the tone early by reaching first base to give La Salle an early baserunner. With Agon De Vera stepping up to the plate, his efficiency with the bat advanced Oñas to third base, putting the Green Batters ahead. Jose Tantuico then delivered a hit, bringing Oñas home and putting La Salle on the board first, 1-0. The Soaring Falcons, however, quickly responded in defense, taking out a Green Batter to end the top half of the first inning. At the bottom of the first, Adamson’s John Matanguihan reached first after a defensive lapse, followed by James Nisnisan who opened up the defense to get on base. DLSU responded by retiring a hitter, but was swiftly countered by Nisnisan advancing to third base. Adamson threatened to extend the inning, but Ezykiel Bautista’s strong defense shut them down.
Opening the second inning, Miguel Agoncillo was awarded a walk after the pitcher threw out of the strike zone. Liam De Vera then advanced Agoncillo to second base and reached first himself after a strong offensive strategy. Pio Villamiel briefly stayed at home plate, but after a few errors in both pitching and batting, he redeemed himself with a hit to allow Agoncillo to score another one for DLSU, 2-0. At the bottom of the second, the Green Batters progressed in toughness by pulling a double play. Joseph Alcontin caught a crucial ball, eliminating two Soaring Falcons out of field. The Lasallian defense remained consistent, shutting down Adamson’s attempts to advance.
In the third inning, Adamson gained momentum. With Dan Bacalla on the mound, the Adamsonian defense slowed down Oñas and A. De Vera, stopping them from heading into scoring position. Tantuico then hit into the gaps, opening up Adamson’s defense and reaching first base. However, on the next play, two Green Batters were plucked out after a strong defensive play by the San Marcelino-based squad. With the Green Batters on the defense, Yuan Sumague gave up a walk to Nico Alig. Yet the Lasallian defense later took out John Mark Tupig and Alig. Despite the tight defense, Adamson responded with resilience as Matanguihan scored, 2-1.
DLSU opened the fourth inning with Sumague stepping up but getting out early. L. De Vera connected well on his second hit of the game to safely reach first base. However, the momentum fell short as Alcontin was caught out. Villamiel tried to keep the offense active with a hit, but Adamson’s defense was quick, fielding the ball and catching him at the first to end the top of the fourth inning with La Salle scoreless. DLSU then brought Sumague to the mound, and the Green Batters stepped up their defense, flawlessly executing a textbook relay from A. De Vera to Alcontin to Tantuico for a crucial out. With two outs, Adamson tried to break through, but Bautista tracked down a fly ball in the outfield to the outside. Both teams stayed scoreless heading into the fifth inning.
At the top of the fifth, DLSU caught a break after Bautista was first to the base. He aggressively ran to bases as he swiped second base, just narrowly missing a chance to stretch to third. Renato Samuel gave the ball a ride deeper to center, though was robbed at the warning track, ending his rally. Despite this, La Salle managed to scratch a run across, extending their lead, 3-1. Adamson answered back quickly in the bottom inning. After a routine catch by Bautista, Adamson put a man on base. A fair ball down the line had La Salle contesting the call, but the runner headed to the next base. The Green Batters unraveled as an errant throw to the second sailed past the infield, allowing Adamson to clear the bases and snatch a run heading into the sixth inning, 3-2.
Clutch batting surge
With Adamson inching closer, the Green Batters came out more aggressive, leading off with Agoncillo who drew a walk as Adamson’s pitcher made an error. Wasting no time, Agoncillo put pressure on the defense, swiping both second and third base. DLSU kept the momentum going as L. De Vera connected on a grounder, but a mishandled tag kept him safe at second. He also looked to run home, but held back and retreated safely to third base. Yet DLSU was not done, as Bautista advanced to third base and later on scored after a wild pitch, 6-2. At the bottom of the sixth, Adamson tried to catch up, earning a walk to put a runner on. But the Green Batters’ defense answered back, forcing a quick out on Carlo Reyes. Miscues started to show, and an error by left fielder Oñas allowed Adamson to score a run, cutting the deficit to two, 6-4.
The game grew tighter with the Soaring Falcons still coming for the Green Batters’ lead, the Taft-based squad’s consecutive attempts to bring in a run fell short as they failed to score in the top of the seventh inning. Agoncillo’s pitches faltered, which allowed Adamson’s Nisnisan to earn a walk. Despite the injection of L. De Vera to pitch, the atmosphere remained unchanged as Nisnisan led two runs for Adamson to tie the game at 6-all.
The Green Batters pushed hard for a lead in the 8th inning, starting off with Alcontin who reached base, advanced on errors, and eventually crossed home plate after a heads up baserunning play to give DLSU a one-point advantage, 7-6. On defense, L. De Vera took the mound as Adamson tried to respond. Johan Rentero reached an error, but DLSU’s infield tightened up, retiring the next batter to keep La Salle ahead.
Heading into the final inning, the DLSU Green Batters were determined to regain their momentum. Early pitching lapses by Adamson gave La Salle an advantage, loading runners to bases led by A. De Vera, Rentero, and Oñas. DLSU capitalized on walks rewarded, allowing Oñas to cross the plate bag more for La Salle, 8-6. Running on a high momentum, Rentero cracked in another run, allowing Samuel to reach third base with backup action by Agoncillo and Liam De Vera, extending the Green-and-White’s lead to 9-6. Determined to seal the win with loaded bases, Alcontin delivered a home run, blazing in four more runs to propel DLSU ahead, 13-6. A balk and an illegal pitch allowed another run to score, widening the gap to eight, 14-6. The Green Batters efficiently closed out the game riding on a high with strong pitching and a key strikeout, securing a dominant 14-6 victory over the Soaring Falcon.
With their sights set on building a winning streak, the Green Batters march into their next high-stakes matchup against the UST Growling Tigers this Sunday, March 23, at 7 am at the same venue.
