DE LA SALLE pounced on defending champion Ateneo’s errors in the early goings to eke out a 14-12 victory and advance to the finals against their victims on Thursday in the University Athletic Association of the Philippines Season 77 baseball tournament at the Rizal Memorial Stadium.
The Green Batters capitalized on the Blue Eagles’ throwing errors in the first inning to score seven runs and hold on to the driver’s seat the rest of the way.
Ateneo threatened to extend the game at the bottom ninth inning but De La Salle got what it wanted out of reliever Carlos Muñoz, who subbed for Carly Laurel after the eighth.
“I just told our pitcher na one out at a time, huwag ma-pressure. Kahit umiskor sila ng pa-isa-isa, ang importante eh ma-hold namin ‘yung outs nila,” Green Batters Coach Joseph Orillana said.
The victory was the sixth in nine matches for De La Salle, while the loss was the third in 10 games for Ateneo, which is coming off three straight defeats as it tries to extend its title run to three seasons.
Game One of the best-of-three finals is on March 5.
Laurel had five strikeouts in his five-inning stint before being replaced by Muñoz, who struck out Renzo Ramos in the crucial bottom ninth frame.
De La Salle’s victory doused all hopes for University of the Philippines, a 7-4 winner over National University also on Thursday, to enter the title round via the back door.