MANILA, Philippines-Defending champions Ateneo received an automatic bye to the UAAP Season 77 Baseball Finals after walloping National University 9-4 Sunday at the Rizal Memorial Baseball Stadium.
Ateneo were soaring above NU with an impressive first four innings as Iñigo Untalan gave his team a 6-0 advantage after clearing the bases with a double to deep center left.
With a 7-0 win-loss record, Ateneo can get a twice-to-beat advantage in the Finals if they sweep their next three games.
De La Salle, meanwhile, pulled the rug from under the University of Santo Tomas Golden Sox with a 13-0 drubbing to strengthen its bid for the other Finals spot.
In the other baseball match, Adamson tore apart the University of the Philippines, 8-1.
La Salle improved to a 5-2 record good for second while UP is at third with a 3-4 card.
UST, NU and Adamson are in a three-way in fourth place with 2-5 records.