UP snaps softball skid, still holds third

c/o UAAP

UAAP Season 86 Softball Standings

AdU 4-0

UST 4-1

UP 3-2

DLSU 1-4

Ateneo 0-5

Baseball Games on Thursday at the UP Baseball Field:

8 a.m. - ADU vs UST

3 p.m. - DLSU vs UP

6 p.m. NU vs Ateneo

The University of the Philippines took advantage of a dominant pitching performance from KC Valino to establish a 5-0 victory over La Salle to kick off their second round campaign in the UAAP Season 86 softball tournament held inside their Diliman campus.

Valino had a perfect game going until the fourth inning, with a Tiffany Labargan hit that eventually ruled as a Martine Francisco error. She would eventually complete the shutout by allowing just a couple of hits.

The first baseman more than made up for her miscue with her bat, as she and Algrace Adajar managed RBI triples to plate three runners to extend UP's lead from 2-0 to 5-0. Francisco would finish with a couple of hits in three at-bats.

Head coach Ron Pagkaliwagan shares his thoughts about today's results, "Maganda na nakuha ulit namin 'tong momentum going into Adamson. 'Yung losses namin sa UST and Adamson, kahit rin sa other teams, breaks of the game lang. So sana makuha namin 'yung break on Saturday."

In the earlier game of the doubleheader, the University of Santo Tomas invoked the mercy rule against Ateneo by securing a 10-2 victory in six innings.

Lyca Blanco pounded the Blue Eagle pitching with three hits off four at-bats, while Helga Campos managed a couple of runs along with her two hits in three-at-bats. One of the shortstop's hits was a solo inside-the-park home run.

Meanwhile, Eiree Baladjay provided solid stability from the mound for the Tiger Softbelles, who remained in second place at 4-1 with their third straight triumph.

The Lines:

Ateneo 0 1 1 0 0 0 x - 2 3 1

UST     1 5 1 0 0 3 x - 10 14 0

UP        2 0 0 3 0 0 0 - 5 7 2

DLSU  0 0 0 0 0 0 0 - 0 2 4