Adamson softbelles score 8th straight mercy rule win, F4 berth

MANILA, Philippines -- Adamson University, as expected, nailed the first Final Four berth with another abbreviated win, a 7-0 decision over University of the Philippines yesterday in the UAAP Season 77 softball tournament at the Rizal Memorial Baseball Stadium.

The five-peat seeking Lady Falcons took only six innings to score a eighth straight mercy rule win and extended their unbeaten run to 56 games.

De La Salle, meanwhile, kept its grip of solo second with a 4-2 victory over University of the East.

The triumph also boosted the Lady Batters bid for a breakthrough Final Four appearance with their sixth win in eight starts.

The Lady Maroons remained in solo third with a 5-4 record.

Two-time runner-up National University downed Ateneo, 9-6, in the last game to gain a piece of fourth place. The Lady Bulldogs tied the Lady Warriors at 4-5, while keeping the Lady Eagles winless with their ninth consecutive defeat.

In baseball, the suspended game between UP and La Salle will only resume if the Fighting Maroons defeated NU and defending champion Ateneo beats the Green Batters in the final day of eliminations today.

UP was leading La Salle, 4-3, in the bottom fifth when play was suspended due to darkness last Sunday. In an earlier match, NU needed 14 innings to beat Adamson, 7-6, causing the first pitch of the last game to start past 3 p.m.

Despite losing two straight after a 7-0 start, the Blue Eagles advanced to the Finals for the fourth straight season, while the Green Batters (6-2) and the Maroons (4-4) are battling for the remaining slot in the best-of-three championship.

The suspended game shall be played on Sunday. If UP beats La Salle, there will be a playoff between the two squads for the last Finals spot.