Games on Wednesday
9 a.m. – DLSU vs UE
11 a.m. – AdU vs UP
1 p.m. – UST vs NU
MANILA, Philippines - Defending champion Adamson turned what was expected to be a dogfight into a one-sided affair, mangling erstwhile co-leader National U in four innings, 12-2, to solidify its top position in the UAAP Season 76 softball tournament at Rizal Memorial yesterday.
The Lady Falcons peppered the Lady Bulldogs’ pitching staff with a total of 14 hits, led by the two-run home runs of Annalie Benjamen and Angelie Ursabia, to set the tone for the rout.
It was Adamson’s fourth straight victory this season, stretching its standing win-streak to a whopping 38 games over the last three years.
“I told the players we’re up against a strong team so we have to outpower them,†AdU coach Ana Santiago said in Filipino after dealing NU its first setback after three successive victories.
“My instruction from the get-go was to be aggressive in hitting, if they gave you a good pitch, go for it,†she also said.
This much was evident in the second inning, where the Lady Falcons exploded with five runs off five hits, highlighted by Benjamen’s blast over the right field fence, to seize a 6-0 lead.
Ursabia presided over AdU’s searing batting in the next frame, driving in Benjamen with her own four-bagger to left field to spark another four-run binge and a 10-0 margin.
Benjamen went three-for-three at bat with two RBIs and three runs while Ursabia accounted for three RBIs and the same number of runs on a 2-for-3 clip.
The Lady Bulldogs managed only three hits against AdU with starter Rizza Bernardino yielding one hit and one run and Julie Marie Muyco surrendering a run off two hits.
NU dropped to a share of second with Santo Tomas, which earlier demolished La Salle, 11-4.
– Olmin Leyba