THE UST Golden Sox failed to outshine the defending champions DLSU Green Batters after a 6-4 defeat in the Final Four of the UAAP Season 86 baseball tournament at the UP Diliman Baseball Field on Sunday.
Following their hard-fought victory against UP on April 6, UST entered the matchup looking to dethrone the twice-to-beat DLSU, which secured the first spot in the Finals.
The Golden Sox drew first blood in the first inning, grabbing a 1-0 start.
The Green Batters quickly retaliated with a JM Segui hit that turned the tables for DLSU, 2-1.
An error by UST shortstop Jesus Cabigao allowed Segui to reach base.
DLSU followed up with a back-to-back hit from Shinji Kajihara and Lord de Vera to widen the lead to 4-1.
UST responded with two runs in the fifth inning, courtesy of Marvin Trillana and Mhiguel Cerda, to narrow the deficit to a single run, 4-3.
UST scored another run in the seventh inning to tie the game at 4-4. However, the Taft-based squad showed their championship mettle, scoring two runs in the bottom of the eighth inning to seal the victory and end UST’s championship hopes, 6-4.
The Golden Sox finished their Season 86 campaign with a 5-6 win-loss record.
DLSU, meanwhile, advances to the Finals for the four consecutive seasons.
They await the winner of the Final Four matchup between the second-seeded NU Bulldogs and the Ateneo Blue Batters. F
