Powered by a thrilling comeback in the eighth inning, the DLSU Green Batters advanced to the UAAP Season 88 Baseball Tournament Finals after shooting down the AdU Soaring Falcons, 7-5, earlier today, April 8, at the Rizal Memorial Baseball Stadium.
Liam De Vera had a stellar display on the mound as he threw a complete game with six strikeouts. Barry Oñas spearheaded the offense as he had three hits, including two doubles and two crucial runs batted in (RBI).
Equivalent exchange
On a mission to secure their sixth consecutive Finals berth, Green Batters pitcher Liam De Vera started the game on a high note, striking out two batters consecutively and a groundout right off the bat. In the bottom half, La Salle was unable to advance further despite a strong deep right-field hit from Oñas with Soaring Falcons pitcher James Nisnisan throwing the Green Batters off guard with two flyouts and a groundout, putting an end to the first frame with both teams scoreless.
Leading off the top of the second, De Vera continued to put the San Marcelino-based squad’s offense on a chokehold through initiating a popout from Kean Matanguihan, another flyout for Kurt Cabanillas, and a devastating strikeout for Mark Montoya. They capitalized on defensive lapses and gave up a walk through a hit-by-pitch from Adamson. La Salle showcased their offensive firepower through an RBI double from Yuta Kajihara off a center-field hit splitting the Adamson defense, 2-0.
Capitalizing on a misread from the Lasallian outfield, the Green Batters’ defense was left vulnerable as Adamson batters’ Kier Plaza and Lawrence Mercado launched an RBI double and an RBI single, respectively, to lead the game, 3-2. Despite the Taft-based squad’s efforts to compensate for their defensive shortcomings, their efforts were in vain as James Nisnisan iced out two Green Batters’ and incited another flyout to end the inning.
In an effort to regain control, De Vera put on a show by shutting down three AdU batters all at once together with the Lasallian outfield waiting on the wings. With two walks handed out from Nisnisan, the Green-and-White seized the opportunity to break the ice with Kajihara and Ezy Bautista each scoring an RBI single to retake the lead, 4-3.
Coming up clutch
The Green Batters were unable to hold on to their advantage as errors proved costly again in the top of the fifth. Two errors by La Salle catcher Tuting Samuel, an errant throw to second, and a mishandle of a ball in the dirt after Nisnisan struck out allowed the tying run to come home. A subsequent sacrifice fly by Plaza gave the advantage back to Adamson, 5-4.
After the offensive display by both teams, the pace of the game settled down as both starting pitchers got into a groove. In both the bottom of the fifth and sixth, Nisnisan worked around a leadoff walk en route to retiring the side without damage. De Vera followed suit in the top of the sixth as after giving up a leadoff single to Cabanillas, the La Salle starting pitcher promptly sat down the next six hitters in order, including a 1-2-3 top of the seventh.
In the bottom of the seventh, the Taft-based squad opened up a golden opportunity as walks by Flores and De Vera, followed by a single from Tantuico. The chance was blown as La Salle pinch-hitter Pio Villamiel grounded into a double play that ended the inning with no runs scored.
De Vera quickly got two outs in the top of the eighth before giving up consecutive singles to Cabanillas and Montoya. The second-year pitcher was able to get out of the jam with a crucial strikeout of Adamson catcher Nico Alig.
Running out of time for a comeback, the Green Batters came up clutch in the bottom of the eighth. After a leadoff walk worked by Andres Lacson, Nisnisan immediately retired the next two batters to give the momentum back to the Soaring Falcons. However, Oñas got his second RBI of the game as he hit a resounding double to knot up the match at 5-all. Still with two outs, the Green-and-White would load the bases after Samuel was intentionally walked and pinch-hitter Miguel Agoncillo was hit by a pitch. With a chance to take control of the match, Marco Tantuico hit a crucial two-RBI single up the middle to give the Green batters a 7-5 advantage.
In the top of the ninth, De Vera ended a quality complete game performance by shutting down the top of the Adamson lineup to seal the victory.
After securing another Finals berth, the Green Batters await the winner of the NU Bulldogs-UP Fighting Maroons matchup.
