UAAP Baseball Finals: Bulldogs even it up to book a Game Three

This appears in ateneo.edu

Bulldogs even it up to book a Game Three

by rick olivares

February 26, 2012

Rizal Memorial Baseball Stadium

The National University Bulldogs feasted on the early pitching of Ateneo’s Adriane Bernardo in the early innings then held off the Blue Batters’ late charge for a 5-2 win to send the UAAP Baseball Finals to a decisive Game Three.

Both starting pitchers for the two teams – NU’s Aries Oruga and Ateneo’s Bernardo – did not have their stuff but it was the Bulldogs who made the Blue Eagles pay for the bad pitching and failure to stop their aggression on the base paths.

Oruga wasn’t 100% after his recent injury in the match against UST while Bernardo was pitching on three days’ rest. But NU did it on the offensive end as their hit and run tactics and base running tested the arm of Ateneo catcher Dio Remollo as well short stop Charles Catangui and second baseman Kevin Ramos. The Bulldogs were 7-1 in steals and were up 4-0 after four and a half innings.

In the second inning, designated hitter Mark Elic and short stop Ram Alipio got on base with a double and a walk respectively. As Bernardo unloaded a pitch to left fielder Herxel Fortunato, Alipio took off for second base. Remollo tired to gun him down but the ball went through Ateneo shortstop Charles Catangui. Elic easily dashed for home; 1-0 NU.

At the top of the third inning, NU first baseman Aprix Santos had two RBIs when his hit Bernardo’s second pitch into the gap between second and third for a 3-0 lead.

Prior to the start of the fourth inning, Bernardo looked up high to the sky as if to implore for help as he had thrown 54 pitches in the first three innings. But the Game One winner’s misery continued as NU second baseman Jezeel Rosita added a RBI single to make it 4-0.

After Rosita’s hit, Ateneo coach Emer Barandoc took the ball from Bernardo’s glove and handed the pitching reigns to Tantuico (while Bernardo moved over to short stop while Kevin Ramos shifted over to second base).

Tantuico proceeded to pitch three and 2/3 innings of shut out ball as his power pitching baffled the NU batters.

With Ateneo steadier on the mound, the Blue Batters’ bats came alive. Tantucio followed his fourth inning of relief with a towering home run to left field (some 315 feet) for a run. An inning later, Catangui hit a RBI single to make it 4-2.

Ateneo had two chances to overhaul the lead when they loaded the bases in the bottom of the seventh and the ninth innings but Tantuico popped out and Bocc Bernardo struck out respectively. 

Obviously bothered by his crucial out at the bottom of the seventh, Tantuico’s pitching suffered and he walked Elic in a bases loaded situation on the top of the ninth to give NU a 5-2 lead that the Bulldogs would hold on to the end.

When Tantuico took the mound, he not only silenced the NU bats but also their loud and vociferous bench with a display of power pitching. But the Blue Batters inability to get the big hit (they stranded 14 runners) did them in.

“We didn’t get the job done,” said a concerned Matt Laurel, Ateneo’s third baseman who was also instrumental in stopping the bleeding of the first four innings with his defense. After Rosita’s RBI single in the fourth, he threw out Fortunato at first and tagged out Alipio who was off the bag after he caught a one hopper by NU third baseman Johndel Tolosa to end the fourth inning. “Now we have to really focus on getting the job done. But it’s going to be tough because it’s an exam week for us. But no excuses. We will just have to get it done.”

Oruga pitched a complete game to get the win for NU. Bernardo lost his second game in seven starts.

Ateneo de Manila University

19 Bernardo Adriane Ros P

3 Ramos, Kevin SS

17 Catangui Charles 2B

11 Laurel, Matt 3B

63 Tantuico Paco 1B

14 Remollo, Dio C

21 Long, Kirk CF

10 Bagamasbad, Gabe RF

7 Reyes, Matt RF

Changes:

Ros to 2^nd Paco pitching

Charles to 1^st

Ramos to 2^nd

Pelos Remollo to CF at the top of the 7^th inning

Kirk Long to right field; Gab Bagamasbad out.

National University

29 Rosita Jezreel 2B

3 Lumbres RF

6 Gante MJ CF

4 Olivares, Alfred C

8 Santos, Aprix 1B

7 Elic, M DH

9 Alipio, R SS

10 Fortunato, Herxel LF

44 Tolosa, Jhondel 3B

23 Oruga, Aries P

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Adriane Bernardo in first game:
First pitch strike 5x 
First pitch ball 3x
He faded once he got to the 7th inning.


Adriane Bernardo in second game:
First pitch strike 2x
First pitch ball 2x