MJ Carolino and the NU baseball team. –UAAP PYOTO
MANILA, Philippines–MJ Carolino put on a pitching showcase, holding Adamson University to just four hits and lifting National University to a skid-snapping 9-1 victory in the UAAP Season 85 baseball tournament Tuesday at UP Diliman Baseball Field.
Carolino, UAAP’s reigning Best Pitcher, did a no-relief job. The national team pitcher also had seven strikeouts in the contest.
The Bulldogs avenged their 8-10 defeat to the Soaring Falcons last March 26 and snapped their three-game skid to go up to 3-5, tying University of Santo Tomas at fourth place.
NU coach Egay Delos Reyes credited the team’s defense for the win.
“We did well on defense today [that’s why we won this game]. For the past few games, defense has always been our problem,” said Delos Reyes. “You know our situation [in the standings], so we just enjoyed it and just see what we can do.”
Leading by just three at 4-1 heading into the sixth inning, the Bulldogs secured the win this time by scoring five runs in the said frame.
NU third baseman Gio Gorpido sent a strong hit to left field to score both his centerfielder, Kenneth Maulit, and shortstop, Cyril Antipolo, home to start the scoring binge. Gorpido eventually crossed the plate himself on a fielder’s choice with right fielder Nigel Paule taking the putout on second on his behalf.
Two more runs from Reynante Aranzanso, who batted for designated hitter Nico Calanday, and second baseman Kevin Maulit knotted the eventual final score.
Adamson starting pitcher Dan Rommel Bacalla bore the weight of the fourth- and sixth-inning barrages from the Bulldogs before relief pitchers Raymond Matic and King Viterbo stopped the bleeding to one run and one hit from the sixth to the ninth innings.