Manila: University of Santo Tomas (UST) stayed perfect in the UAAP Season 88 high school baseball tournament after hacking out an 8-6 victory over National University Nazareth School (NUNS), 8-6, at Rizal Memorial Baseball Stadium in Manila on Saturday.
According to Philippines News Agency, the Junior Golden Sox rallied from a 3-4 deficit with a four-run outburst in the sixth inning, followed by another run in the seventh to take the upper hand at 8-4. Second baseman Dave Ereve made an RBI triple to center field that brought home third baseman Jacky Lobos to tie the score at 4-all. Right fielder Joseph Paragas followed with an RBI single to score Ereve, before twins Joshua and Joseph Paragas both crossed the plate to stretch UST's lead to 7-4.
'It's a tough win. NUNS is strong. Anytime we play against them, we'll only be talking about breaks of the game. It's good that our pitchers are working, they're holding NUNS' batters,' UST coach Jeff Santiago said after their second victory. Santiago pulled out starting pitcher Joshua Ibabao after facing just four batters and allowing a walk, two hits, and two earned runs. He went to Marcus Tolentino, who surrendered only three hits in 4 2/3 innings of relief. Ace pitcher Eugene Hermozura sealed the win, tossing the final four innings and yielding just two hits. The Paragas twins paced UST's offense with two hits and two RBIs each.
Chester Mateo and John Plaza each tallied two hits and an RBI for NUNS, which took its first loss. In the other game, Amadeus Trozado scored the season's first home run as De La Salle Zobel (DLSZ) scored a 17-7 win over PAREF Southridge in seven innings. Trozado's solo shot to deep left field highlighted a six-run opening frame for the Junior Green Batters. But the Admirals scored in the second inning and made five runs in the third to level the count at 6-all.
DLSZ unloaded four runs in the bottom of the third. Trozado drove in a run with an RBI single before right fielder Isaac Ferrer cleared the bases with a double to center field to make it 10-6. The Junior Green Batters produced five more runs, capped by center fielder Jeff Palanog's single to shallow center, that sent Trozado home for the final 17-7 count. 'I know my boys. I know they will do what I say. When they really get the momentum, that's it," DLSZ coach Gil Encarnado Jr. said. Isaac Ferrer finished with four RBIs, while third baseman-turned-pitcher Jan Soriano collected three hits, including a double. Soriano allowed just two hits in his outing. DLSZ and Southridge are now tied for second to third places at 1-1.
