UP snaps Adamson winning streak in softball finals opener

c/o UAAP

Game on Saturday at the UP Baseball Field

4 p.m. - UP vs Adamson (Finals Game 2, UP leads series 1-0)

Game 1 of the UAAP Season 86 Softball Finals provided some drama at the UP Baseball Field, as the University of the Philippines outlasted Adamson in eight innings, 3-2.

With the extra innings rule in place putting a runner on second base, Danica Aquino fires an RBI double  off April Minanga to send Generose Torremocha home to break a 1-1 tie.

After a fielder's choice that moved her to third, Joyce Rasco would contribute an RBI single allowing Aquino to score the third run of the match.

Armed with a two-run lead, the Fighting Maroons rode on the arm of its ace, KC Valino to finish things off at the bottom of the eighth inning.

Adamson managed to pull a run back after a two-out RBI double from MJ Maguad, but Valino forces a Roma Jane Cruz pop fly to Francisco to end the game and snap their winning streak at fifteen matches dating back to last season.

The San Miguel National High School product completed the game with just four hits and issuing six strikeouts. She shared, post-game, "Nag-flash sa 'kin mukha ng papa ko nung may naka-hit nung dulo. Parang ang sabi niya, 'Ayusin mo bato mo.' So, inisip ko kailangan kong i-sakto bato ko kundi magagalit siya."

Valino adds about what they need to clinch the title, "Last na eh, kailangang ibuhos namin to lahat sa Sabado."

UP gave up the opening run of the game on a couple of miscues, with Aquino mishandling the ball that allowed Remelie Herrero to be safe at second, and followed that with an errant throw from Valino allowing Herrero to touch home from second base.

The Maroons could have had a chance to equalize in the sixth inning, but Angel Pascual was called out on third after the Lady Falcons secured the out on a relay throw.

However, they finally got an equalizer in the final inning in regulation, as Martine Francisco's RBI single scored Algrace Adajar from second.

Adamson could have clinched the game at the bottom of the seventh, with a sacrifice bunt and a sacrifice fly able to move a runner onto third base, but Valino forces a flyout from pinchhitter Feelyn Pajotal to send things into extras.

UP head coach Ron Pagkaliwagan says about they ground this out, "Ang sinabi ko lang sa players ko is, 'Don't dwell on the call. Judgment call 'yun.' Ni-remind ko lang sila na last innings, hangga't sa last out, walang bibitaw kasi ito 'yung pinaghirapan namin buong year."

Game 2 of the Finals is slated on Saturday afternoon at 4pm, with the match streamed through Pilipinas Live.

The Maroons will have a chance to win their first softball title since Season 70, and fifth overall.

The Lines:

TEAM 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8  R H E

UP       0 0 0 0 0 0 1 2   3 8 2

AdU    0 1 0 0 0 0 0 1   2 5 1