The DLSU Green Batters were unable to turn their early struggles around, succumbing to the onslaught of the UST Growling Tigers, 10-6, in the UAAP Season 88 Men’s Baseball Tournament earlier today, March 1, at the Rizal Memorial Baseball Stadium.
The Lasallians struggled to mount a breakthrough as early errors proved costly and allowed UST to seize control and sustain their rhythm.
Finding rhythm
Although coming off from a thrilling comeback victory in their previous outing, the Green Batters found themselves in a familiar predicament. The Green-and-White’s batting ran cold as Tiger pitcher Irvin Llave fired off consecutive strikeouts to stifle momentum. In contrast, the Growling Tigers had a much better display as Cedrick Marquez ripped off a leadoff double to set the tone. With pitching struggles from Jose Tantuico and defensive lapses from La Salle, the white shirts made them pay as Erjohn Gallos and John Fernandez delivered RBI singles to put UST ahead, 2-0.
Tantuico’s woes carried into the third inning, issuing two walks that led to loaded bases. Adding to their early miscues, UST strung together successive hits to bring their batters home, prompting the Green-and-White to call on veteran pitcher Peter Nonaillada in relief. The Growling Tigers stayed relentless, squeezing another RBI before the inning closed to stretch their lead, 5-0.
Facing a steep deficit, La Salle began to settle in during the next frame, capitalizing as Llave’s pitching wavered to load the bases. Ezy Bautista finally broke through, lacing an RBI double that eluded the fielders to put La Salle on the board and keep them in the game, 5-2. Intent on sustaining momentum, Nonaillada’s poise on the mound, coupled with sharper positioning, stifled any Thomasian threat to hold them scoreless in back-to-back innings.
Pulling away
Following a rough start in the sixth, UST zeroed in on La Salle’s offense with Llave icing two heavy hitters. Pinch hitter Andres Lacson tried to gain momentum on the attack toward first base but the España-based squad did not do them any favors leaving them scoreless in the top half. With Nonaillada stepping into the mound, he left UST no room to load the bases with no runs made, as La Salle upped the ante on the defensive end with the outfielders picking up the pieces.
With a strong defensive showing, Green Batters found another heartbeat at bat as Bautista scored another RBI off a deep right-field hit, 5-3. La Salle continued their rally with De Vera moving up two bases, capitalizing on the fielding errors made by the opposition. However, La Salle’s momentum would be cut short. The Growling Tigers answered with a complete shutout despite Pio Villamiel’s speedy advances toward third base. UST’s Marvin Trillana would initiate a rally that changed the course of the game to their favor. With pitching woes continuing to haunt the Batters, this time at the expense of Johan Rentero, the Growling Tigers relentlessly bombarded the Green Batters’ with a hot batting streak ending the bottom half, 9-3.
At the top of the eighth, DLSU looked to regain their momentum with Barry Oñas and Lacson taking second and third bases. Bautista brought another Green Batter home as he left the Thomasian defense open through countless errors. Two more baserunners came home before the team finished their run as an incited double play ended the top half. With Bautista pitching, the Lasallian defense tried to contain the aggressiveness of the Thomasian squad by delivering two outs, yet De Leon sent another RBI off a center line drive putting the defense on skates to end the bottom.
In the ninth, the Green Batters ran out of steam as Marquez stepped in to ice the three remaining batters to seal the victory for UST, 10-6.
Now sitting at 1-1 in the standings, Green Batters Head Coach Joseph Orilliana gave his impressions on the game, reflecting on their base running errors that led to the defeat: “Naging mabigat sa amin. Ra-rally kami pero magkakaroon ng pickoff sa bases.” With slow starts becoming a reoccurrence for the squad, Orilliana noted hitting and the need for pitchers to deliver early on in the match as the Green-and-White’s points for improvement.
(It was heavy for us. We would start a rally, but then there would be a pickoff at the bases.)
The Lasallians will shift their attention to bouncing back in their clash with the ADMU Blue Eagles on Wednesday, March 4, at the same venue.
