Tigresses near sweep, 1st ever softball title

University of Sto. Tomas (UST) moved closer to its first-ever crown after scoring a come-from-behind 4-3 win over University of the Philippines (UP) to go 9-0 in the 72nd UAAP softball tournament Wednesday at The UST field. The win moved the Tigresses into the threshold of the tiara, which they can claim outright by beating defending champion Adamson on Saturday and completing a sweep of the two-round eliminations.

But chalking up their ninth win did not come easy for the España-based clouters, who had to make one final push in the seventh and final inning to escape the upset axe raised by the Lady Maroons. Their sweep and outright title bid in danger with UP holding a 3-0 lead entering the final inning, UST sluggers Ana Paghubusan, Melanie Laserna, Aiza dela Torre and Lani Sarmiento responded big time by making four crucial hits that resulted in four marginal runs. Dela Torre’s grounder and Sarmiento’s single scored Paghubusan and Laserna before the two runners on base scooted home for the tying run and go-ahead run, pouncing on a wild throw by UP pitcher Genalyn Ytario off a batted ball by Tresha Rodriguez. “They (UP) had one big inning and we had our big inning in the crucial stages of the game," said UST coach Sandy Barredo, who’s team is now looking forward to nail its maiden softball tiara against the Lady Falcons. “We expect a tougher outing from Adamson. I expect them to use their pitchers against us but we will be ready," added Barredo. The Lady Falcons hacked out a lopsided 13-0 win over Ateneo to stretch their winning run to four and an 8-1 slate overall. The San Marcelino-based softbelles could spoil the Tigresses’ sweep bid in their much-awaited showdown. “It boils down to our last game. If my hitters can connect against their pitcher, we have a good chance of winning," said Lady Falcons coach Ana Santiago. UP scored the first three runs right in the first inning as UST committed three errors, two of which were made by second base Jenalyn Polinario. A fielding error by Polinario scored Mariel Sayuno while a wild throw to first sent Angel Jadloc and Eliza Legarte home. UP pitcher Jenalyn Ytario held her ground and limited the Lady Tigresses to just a hit in the next five innings but she could not finish the job, sending her team to a 4-5 record. After allowing three hits in the final inning, Ytario was replaced by Lulu Rote who gave up a hit to Sarmiento before retiring Sharmaine Dionisio for the second out. Ytario was fielded back in to face Rodriguez and seemed to have handled the situation as she caught the batted ball. But to the shock of the UP fanatics, Ytario’s pitch to first went wild resulting in Dela Torre and Sarmiento’s runs from second and first base, respectively. UE demolished La Salle, 19-1, for its third win against six defeats to tie Ateneo at fourth and fifth place while the Lady Archers fell to 0-9. - GMANews.TV