Diolata hurls UP IX to win over Ateneo

MANILA, Philippines – Chise Diolata pitched a one-hitter as University of the Philippines overpowered Ateneo in four innings, 11-0, to get off to a blazing start in the UAAP Season 78 softball tournament yesterday at the Rizal Memorial diamond.

Diolata allowed a solitary base-hit and extinguished six of the 13 batters she faced as she stood at the forefront of the defense of the Lady Maroons, last year’s losing finalist.

Offensively, UP had a field day against AdMU’s pitchers, hitting 11 times with DC Cruz (two-for-two at bat) and Juliet Omul (two-for-three) each putting up a two-RBI, two-run game.

The Lady Maroons unloaded eight runs off five hits in the second frame to set the tone for the shutout win, which gave them a share of the early lead with fellow opening-day victors University of Santo Tomas and National U.

The Tigresses, third placers last season, banked on Big League Softball World Series 2016 veteran Mary Ann Antolihao’s superb seven-inning performance on the mound to nip University of the East, 4-0, while the Lady Bulldogs drubbed La Salle, 10-2.

Antolihao yielded a single hit and struck out six to get the job done for UST, which made the most out of its six hits against UE’s Lovely Joy Redaja to complete the victory.

The Tigresses pounced on two errors to put Hannah Mae dela Torre to the plate in the first stanza before veteran Cristy Joy Roa doubled the lead three innings later. Kristine Joy Lacupa and Jannah Bianca Hernandez reached the plate in the fifth to stretch the UST margin.