By Jean Malanum
MANILA – The University of Santo Tomas (UST) snapped the National University’s (NU) five-game run with a 5-4 win in the UAAP Season 88 baseball tournament at the Rizal Memorial Sports Complex Baseball in Malate, Manila on Wednesday.
The Golden Sox displayed their relentless offensive, converting runs in the eighth inning to grab the lead en route to secure their second win in six games.
Four consecutive hits off NU reliever Hil Espina III brought in a second run and loaded the bases with Harry Geronimo, Cedrick Marquez, and Tim Caldo on, prompting NU head coach Romar Landicho to bring in national team standout Amiel De Guzman.
The Golden Sox continued their attack. Eljin Mendoza smacked a two-RBI single to deep left field, tying the game, before Sean De Leon delivered the go-ahead run.
“I’ll remove their scholarship if they don’t win. ‘That’s the challenge: ‘If you don’t win, a lot of people will graduate from high school, your allowance will be cut off,” said head coach Jeff Santiago.
“It’s a joke, but you really have to scare them. So, look, I always yell at them. But that’s the culture in UST baseball, it’s a bit rough. You really have to beat them. I just reminded them, the last game was 3–1. Last year, we lost to them, it’s not impossible for us to beat them again.”
NU remains on top of the standings with a 5-1 record.
Mendoza, who replaced Erjohn Gallos, had one hit and two RBIs in the eighth, while Marquez delivered three of the team’s 13 hits. Irvin Llave earned the win after shutting out NU over the final five innings, allowing just one hit.
UST is in fifth place, behind Adamson University (2-3). They will meet again on Sunday.
NU controlled the first five innings, taking advantage of UST errors in the second and fifth to build a 4–1 lead. Julius Cesar Soriano got his first hit in the second inning and scored on an errant play by Charles Chua, who later committed another fielding miscue, allowing Aaron Detoito to score.
The Bulldogs managed only five hits in the game, insufficient to challenge the Golden Sox defense. Kevin Maulit produced NU’s only run with his single.
NU will try to bounce back when it battles the University of the Philippines on Sunday. (PNA)
