Tigresses stay on the prowl for 1st UAAP softball tiara

University of Santo Tomas flexed just enough muscle in dealing winless La Salle a 12-2 beating to remain on course for a first-ever UAAP softball title. After sweeping the first round, the Tigresses once again flaunted their solid hitting despite limited action from their regular starters en route to their sixth straight win. Seldom-used Ma. Rupilla Lovely Basa connected in two times at bat, scoring two runs and driving in two. Ana Pagbuhusan, Melanie Laserna, Jocelyn Ungsod and Angelique Benjamin also had two hits each as UST out-hit La Salle, 10-3, in the contest that lasted just four innings.

The team of coach Sandy Barredo, which surprised everyone with a 5-0 sweep of the first round, pushed in four runs right in the first inning to set the tone for a dominating finish. Perly Jane Panganiban started at the mound and limited her rivals to just a hit with a strikeout in three innings before ace hurler Aiza dela Torre came in and gave up two hits and two runs in a one-inning pitch. 4 wins away With the victory, the Tigresses moved four wins away from securing their maiden title in the UAAP softball wars via a 10-0 sweep. “UST has been a many-time runners-up since 1970 and I really hope we can keep this (streak) up and finally win a softball title," said Barredo who has delivered five second-place finishes since assuming coaching position in 2000. He admitted this current batch is not as strong as his past teams but it plays with so much cohesion, something that he feels would play a key role in UST’s title campaign. “I really did not expect we can sweep the first round but I'm very confident our players will perform well because we have a balanced team made up of good pitchers, hitters and players who can defend. I just hope our players especially the veterans can continue to lead the team plus some luck," said Barredo. The team guns for its seventh straight win on Wednesday against UE, which actually defeated the España-based squad in the first round, 10-0, but the Lady Warriors’ win was nullified by league officials because the UE squad fielded in an ineligible player. The Lady Warriors, meanwhile, failed to protect a two-run lead after five innings and bowed to defending champion Adamson, 7-4. Pitcher Lanilyn Aligno surrendered six of the 10 hits she allowed yielded to the Lady Falcons in the last two innings as defending champion Adamson got back quickly from a 2-5 loss to UST at the close of the first round last week. The Lady Falcons had their best inning in the seventh as Elna Parohinog, Felixwanda Custodio, Elma Parohinog and Elvie Entrina connected and drove home a run each for a three-run lead going into UE's final at bat. Julie Marie Muyco replaced starter Rizza Bernardo (three hits and two runs with a strikeout in two innings) and drew easy flyouts off UE's three top batters Michelle Francisco, Gene Joy Parilla and Maria Brenda Bacarisas to seal the win. It was the fifth win in six outings for Adamson while UE dropped to a 1-5 record. - GMANews.TV