Falcon batters remain in contention with crucial dub vs Ateneo
Date Posted: March 12, 2024 at 02:22 PM
Photo: The UAAP
Adamson U secured a come-from-behind 9-8 walk-off victory over Ateneo de Manila University in the UAAP 86 Baseball Tournament held March 0 at the UP Diliman Baseball/Softball Field in Quezon City.
Trailing by four runs to begin the bottom of the 8th inning, the Falcons unleashed five runs in their last two offensive frames to snatch the victory and improve their record to a 2-3 card.
The decisive moment came with just one out in the final inning when Kean Matanguihan sent a pitch from Ateneo substitute pitcher Joshua De Juras to third baseman Angelo Bernardo. A fumble in Bernardo's throw home to catcher Joaquin Casanova turned what should have been an out into the game-winning run for John Matanguihan and Adamson.
The momentum shifted in favor of the San Marcelino-based crew in the final inning, with Keano Reyes delivering a crucial single to left field, followed by another hit from John Matanguihan that put runners on first and second bases.
Ateneo then decided to intentionally walk Kenneth Delos Santos to load the bases, setting the stage for Jose Mercado to bring home the tying run and apply pressure on the Ateneo defense, ultimately leading to the game-winning error.
Despite Ateneo maintaining an 8-3 lead until the sixth inning fueled by a four-run surge, a series of defensive errors, including the critical mistake in the final play, proved costly for the Katipunan-based squad, resulting in their third loss of the season.
With reports from The UAAP
The Lines:
Ateneo 1 0 1 0 2 4 0 0 0 - 8 11 7
AdU 1 1 1 0 1 0 0 3 2 - 9 11 3
