INQUIRER Sports

UNIVERSITY OF SANTO TOMAS, the UAAP overall championship leader, launched its softball and baseball campaigns with contrasting wins over Ateneo at the Rizal Memorial ballpark in Manila over the weekend.

The Tigers, fourth placers last year, posted a thrilling 10-9 victory to gain the early lead in baseball Sunday, a day after the Tigresses scored a resounding 11-1 win.

National University prevailed in the other baseball match by whipping University of the Philippines, 7-4.

It was a day of routs in softball with defending champion Adamson crushing La Salle, 13-0, and UE outclassing UP, 7-0, also Saturday.

Haruta Estanislao drove home Marc Castillo and Carlo Conge in the sixth inning with a single that proved decisive for the Tigers as the Eagles rallied with six runs in the bottom of the same inning.

UST proved too good for Ateneo with Ana Carisa Paghubasan smashing a grand slam home run in the sixth after Tresha Rodriguez smashed a three-bagger in the fourth.

Filling the role left by prized pitcher Cloine Muyco, rookie Julie Marie Muyco made an auspicious debut for the Lady Falcons by combining for a three-hitter with Rissa Bernardino.

Elna Parohinog, Marissa dela Cruz and Anavic Jugos scored two runs each for Adamson which is seeking its sixth title in seven years.