The DLSU Green Batters delivered in a high-pressure moment as they avenged their Round One loss against the UP Fighting Maroons, 5-4, in their Round Two opener of the UAAP Season 87 Baseball Tournament earlier today, April 2, at the Rizal Memorial Baseball Stadium.
Marco Flores was hailed Player of the Game with a stellar performance, contributing an RBI single in the Green Batters’ victory.
Pitching battle
After a series of high-scoring matches in Round One, rookie Barry Oñas brought his steady pitching game to the mound today. With no hitting duties for the day, the La Salle pitcher started the game flawlessly, stopping any Fighting Maroons to get on base in the first three innings. Oñas relied on soft contact with the occasional strikeout missed in the mix.
UP starting pitcher Kennedy Torres nearly matched his counterpart’s performance; however, the Green Batters drew first blood after a routine fly out from Agon De Vera turned into an RBI triple, bringing home Ezy Bautista to give La Salle a 1-0 advantage in the bottom of the third.
The lead was short-lived as the top of the Fighting Maroons lineup delivered in the fourth. Reigning league MVP Ian Mercado led off with a triple to left field and was immediately driven home by an RBI single from Aaron Nicha, tying the game at 1-all. Oñas recovered from the earned run, retiring the last three hitters in order. Both pitchers got back in the groove in the fifth, allowing no runs in this period.
Onslaught withstood
At the top of the sixth, the Green Batters displayed their defensive prowess, blocking UP from securing any runs with a pop out, ground out, and fly out in consecutive bats. The Green Batters would capitalize on this momentum at the bottom of the sixth, starting with an A. De Vera single, followed by a walk by Liam De Vera. Although L. De Vera was caught out at second base, following Renato Samuel’s hit to send him in first, A. De Vera safely reached the third. Flores then delivered a hit to send A. De Vera home to gain the lead, 2-1. Shortly after, a throwing error by UP’s second baseman allowed Joseph Alcontin to execute an RBI double to increase the lead, 3-1. Peter Nonaillada would check in for Oñas, pitching for the rest of the game.
Despite a momentum-shifting sixth inning, the UP Fighting Maroons would stun the Green Batters at the top of the seventh as Torres would hit a two-run home run to tie the game again, 3-all. The Diliman-based squad’s batting continued to run hot as Axl Vispo and Mercado secured singles. After a single RBI by Nicha, they took a one-run lead against La Salle, 4-3. The Green Batters attempted to regain control of the game in the bottom of the seventh as Bautista and A. De Vera secured a double and a single, respectively, with the latter stealing second base. However, a ground out and fly out to L. De Vera and Flores ended the inning without DLSU scoring a run.
Nonaillada would come alive in the top of the eighth, performing two strikeouts to open and close the brief inning, with a fly out on Badrina in between. The Green Batters set the tone at the bottom of the eighth as Pio Villamiel secured a double. He was then replaced by pinch runner Jomar Villacruz. A wild pitch by Torres would follow, awarding Alcontin a walk with Villarcruz loading the third. Alcontin would be caught stealing, however, as Villacruz ran to home base to tie the game at 4-all.
The top of the ninth saw a crucial moment as the Green Batters came clutch on the defensive end after retiring LM Basañes and Mercado on a double play. The bottom of the ninth would begin with a walk being awarded to Bautista and an intentional walk on A De Vera. Consecutive flyouts would occur to retire L De Vera and Samuel. UP would intentionally walk Flores, loading all bases for the Green Batters and setting up a drama-ensuing finish to the inning. Nonaillada stepped up to the plate and got hit by the pitch of Ram Matanguihan, awarding him with a walk-off that sealed the Green Batters’ thrilling victory, 5-4.
La Salle Head Coach Joseph Orillana emphasized the need for mental strength and smart play as Round Two progresses, “Sabi ko sa kanila bago pumasok ng second round, mental ball game na ‘to. [Kailangan na ng] mental toughness, discipline, at baseball IQ. Sabi ko patalinuhan na sa laro kasi from first round, siguro naman naka-adjust na kayo so kailangan ang mga errors noong first round ay ma-eliminate na natin.”
(I told them before entering the second round that it’s now a mental ballgame. We need mental toughness, discipline, and baseball IQ. I told them that it’s a battle of wits because they should have already adjusted, so the errors in the first round should have been eliminated by now.)
Now improving to a 4-2 record, the Green Batters will look to carry the momentum into their face-off against the AdU Soaring Falcons on Sunday, April 6, at the same venue.
