Green Batters fall to NU’s comeback effort in Game 1
The De La Salle University (DLSU) Green Batters took a step back in Game 1 of the UAAP Season 86 Men’s Baseball Finals as they suffered a 4–8 defeat at the hands of the National University (NU) Bulldogs earlier today at the University of the Philippines (UP) Diliman Baseball Field. The Green Batters scored four runs early in the game and held that advantage through the sixth before the Bulldogs pulled off an eight-point swing inside two innings which ultimately proved to be decisive.
Lord Aragorn de Vera was quickly on the scoresheets after making the lone trip to home plate in the opening inning, giving La Salle a 1–0 lead after the first set of exchanges. Momentum stayed with the Green Batters coming into the second as their offense completed three trips around the mound, bringing their tally up to 4–0. National Team standout and Season 85 Finals MVP Joshua Pineda was elected as the starting pitcher for the game, keeping the Bulldogs scoreless after the first couple of innings while picking up two early strikeouts. National U started to find success in the third and managed to get two bases loaded, but a double play started by Pio Villamiel and capped off by De Vera at third base dashed the Bulldogs’ chances at finally scoring a run.
The third to sixth innings went scoreless on both ends, but that didn’t mean there was any shortage of action. Pineda racked up two more strikeouts by the top of the fifth and helped deny NU from reaching home despite having two bases loaded on three different scenarios. La Salle’s outfielders, meanwhile, showcased their strength and precision by making inch-perfect throws to claim critical outs for the Green Batters. De Vera was also on point from his plate appearances, managing three hits from four tries against Amiel de Guzman.
Kevin Maulit finally put the Bulldogs on the board in the seventh after finding home plate off a long ball by Gio Gorpido. Kiel Olazo was also scored home by a Kent Altarejos RBI, reducing DLSU’s advantage to just two runs. Despite facing the most amount of batters in a single inning and throwing over ten pitches, Pineda remained steadfast and threw a low ball that resulted in a simple out at second base to finally end NU’s turn on offense. JR Samuel, Joseph Alcontin, and Villamiel all loaded the bases with two outs, however the Bulldogs were able to gather the ground ball from Patrick Rivera to end the frame and deal the Green Batters their fifth straight outing without a run.
Peter Nonaillada took to the mound to relieve Pineda in the eighth, but NU was up to the challenge even as the night grew darker. Pinch runner Cyril Antipolo scored another run for the Bulldogs all the way from first base while the #8 Maulit picked up a double for his long drive toward center field. Kevin’s brother, Kenneth, replicated his brother’s long hit toward the backside of the field and pulled off a double to equalize the game at 4–4. De Vera was promptly moved from shortstop to the mound as a result of NU’s back-to-back RBIs.
Kenneth Maulit scored home after what could have been a routine fly ball catch for DLSU hit the ground, giving the Bulldogs their first lead of the game at 5–4. With bases fully loaded, De Vera struck out Jherick Timban and Altarejos in succession, but Nigel Paule pulled off a three-man RBI and essentially doubled La Salle’s score in the blink of an eye. La Salle finally ended the inning with an out on Antipolo after a challenging defensive stand that allowed six NU batters to run home.
The Bulldogs’ lopsided two-inning stretch proved to be the ultimate difference maker in the game as DLSU was effectively shut out by De Guzman in the final stretch of the match. NU took home Game 1, 8–4, after pulling off a late unanswered comeback.
The Green Batters will aim to even the Final series on Sunday, April 21, 4 PM, at the same venue.
