MANILA, Philippines – La Salle upended defending champion Ateneo, 13-6, to grab the solo lead in the UAAP Season 76 baseball tourney at the Rizal Memorial Stadium Thursday.
The Archers seized an early 7-0 cushion and never relented against the reigning titlists en route to notching their second straight win. It was a fitting follow-up to their 5-2 disposal of Season 75 runner-up National U last Sunday.
The Eagles dropped to an even 1-1 tied with the Bulldogs, who bounced back from their listless opening-day performance with a 13-0 demolition of University of Santo Tomas in seven innings.
Adamson broke a 14-game drought with a 5-4 edging of University of the Philippines to also go 1-1.
"We learned our lessons after our loss to La Salle on opening day. I told them to treat each game as a championship game and they responded," said NU team manager Wopsy Zamora.
The Bulldogs vented their ire on the Tigers, tagging UST's Lesmar Ventura, Max Mercado and Amber Plaza, with 17 hits to fuel their sizzling offensive.
MJ Gante led the assault in NU's abbreviated win as he slammed three RBIs and scored three runs himself on a 3-for-4 stint.
Herxel Fortunato blasted an RBI single in the second inning to set off NU's scoring spree. The Season 75 runners up sent two runners to the plate in the third, three in the fourth and five in the fifth to break away for good.
Aries Oruga pitched a three-hitter for NU with Junmar Diarao sealing the shutout.
The Tigers and the Maroons absorbed their first loss.