FOUR-PEAT champion Adamson University remained as the gold standard of the league, while University of the East pulled off an upset win at the conclusion of the University Athletic Association of the Philippines (UAAP) Season 77 softball action on Saturday at the Rizal Memorial diamond.
The Lady Falcons pulled one past University of the Philippines (UP) in four innings, 8-1, to remain unbeaten in 50 contests, while the Lady Warriors managed to sneak past National University (NU) by a 3-2 scoreline. In the early afternoon cap, De La Salle improved to 2-1 win-loss mark following their 3-1 conquest of Ateneo de Manila.
Following a diesel engine start in the first inning with three groundouts, catcher Clariz Palma broke the game open with a two-run double that brought in pitcher Analie Benjamen and right fielder Gelyn Lamata to home plate.
Then, heavy-hitting shortstop Queeny Sabobo made it 5-zip after blasting one beyond the fence to clear the bases and tagged along Palma and third baseman Ednamae Severino.
Three additional runs by Lamata, Sabobo, and rookie Florabele Pabiania in the succeeding innings put the game out of reach, as the Lady Fighting Maroons could only muster a consolation run from DC Cruz off Cochise Diolata’s sacrifice fly for their lone point of the match.
Sabobo tallied three runs batted in (RBIs) on a two-for-three appearance (single, home run) at the plate, followed by Pabiania’s two RBIs off a double in the fourth inning that extended their advantage to 8-nil.
But the biggest surprise of the day was the Lady Warriors’ close win over last season’s losing finalist, paced by solo runs by shortstop Josephine Francisco, second baseman Charlene Quintos, and Season 76 home run queen Roxzell Niloban in the first three innings, respectively, that gave them enough cushion early in the match.
Despite UE taking that early lead, NU came back with a pair of runs by right fielder Shaira Damasing off an RBI double by Charslyn Tulalian at the bottom of the third, and a solo home run by designated player Baby Gequillo as second in the order at the bottom of the final inning to keep their hopes up for a win.
However, NU ran out of luck late in the seventh inning, as both Dyan Arago and Kristine Marie Acuña both flew out at right field and sealed UE’s win.