Navymen nip Blades; Eagles slip past UP IX

MANILA, Philippines — Rowell de Guzman and Jasper Cabrera combined to drive home three runs in the third inning and Philippine Navy held on for a 4-3 win over Batangas State University Thursday in the PSC Commissioners’ Cup at Rizal Memorial Baseball Park.

De Guzman doubled home two runs and Cabrera hit a run-scoring single as the Navymen took the lead for good at 3-1 and posted their first win in three games.

Dio Remollo hit a grounder to drive home Nacho Cojuangco in the bottom of the ninth as Ateneo squeaked past University of the Philippines, 5-4, while University of Santo Tomas easily picked up its second win with a 9-0 default victory over La Salle.

The Eagles also raised their record to 2-0  while the Maroons slipped to 2-2.

Only four players showed up in the 7 a.m. match for the Archers whose other members were having their final examinations.

La Salle took a second straight setback after getting clobbered by Air Force, 10-2, last weekend. Batangas fell to 3-0.

The Eagles were ahead, 4-2, when the Maroons scored a run each in the seventh and eighth to tie the game. But Ateneo loaded the bases in the lower ninth and Espojo drove in Karl Peralta for the winning run.