UE softbelles bag third UAAP crown

University of the East beat University of Santo Tomas, 5-2, yesterday to complete a 10-game sweep of the eliminations and clinch the women’s title outright in the University Athletic Association of the Philippines women’s softball tournament.

UE rode on outfielder Claire Escare’s two-run homerun at the top of the second inning to foil UST, which wound up second in the tournament with seven wins and three losses.

Escare’s homer, which sailed deep into right field and landed on the UST campus’ service road, plus Gladys Pulido’s run-scoring hit also in the same inning neutralized UST’s two-run binge at the bottom of the first inning.

Erica Tayag and Jennifer Valencia drilled in opening runs for UST, which failed to score after that while allowing UE to nail another one at the top of the fourth.

UE, whose women’s softball crown is only its third since winning in 1965 and 1978, also got the headstart in the boys’ volleyball finals.

The UE boys, who are seeking their school’s third title, defeated De La Salle Zobel, 25-16, 25-22, in Game One of the series which was also played yesterday at the UE Recto gym.

UE goes for the title in Game Two at 10 a.m. Saturday.

De La Salle, meanwhile, and University of the Philippines collide at the Rizal Memorial Stadium beginning at 12 noon today in the one-game final for the UAAP men’s baseball crown.