THE UST Golden Sox ended their UAAP Season 87 baseball campaign in third place after succumbing to the twice-to-beat DLSU Green Batters, 6-5, in the semifinals on Tuesday, April 29, at the Rizal Memorial Baseball Stadium.
NU’s victory over Adamson in the other semifinals bracket sealed the podium finish for UST, which wrapped up the elimination round with a 5–5 record.
This marks the España crew’s best finish since securing the silver medal in Season 79.
Rookie Yuan Sumague delivered a walk-off single deep into center field that sent co-captain Tuting Samuel sprinting home for DLSU’s’ fifth consecutive finals appearance and a shot at their seventh UAAP title.
The Golden Sox struck first, plating two runs in the second inning to carve out a 2–0 advantage. However, the Green Batters responded with two runs of their own at the bottom of the fourth tie the game at 2–all.
In the top of the fifth, veteran slugger Justine Rosales laced a crucial hit that brought JR Vargas home and pushed UST back ahead, 3–2.
UST’s pitching errors allowed DLSU to load the base in the bottom half of the sixth, setting the stage for Sumague to deliver a triple that brought home Pio Villamiel, Renato Samuel and JR Alcontin for a 5-3 advantage.
Refusing to wilt under pressure, the Golden Sox quickly struck back as rookie Cedric Marquez launched a solo home run to cut the deficit to one in the top of the seventh.
A costly error by the Green Batters allowed Vargas to score and knot the game at 5-all.
DLSU’s Liam de Vera anchored a crucial double play in the extra inning to quash a UST rally and later earned the win on the mound. Samuel and Alcontin advanced on a sacrifice bunt before Sumague laced a walk-off hit to center to secure the victory.
UST will bid farewell to Season 85 MVP Rosales, team captain Mhigeil Cerda, John Vargas, Jester Tapia and Alwyn Piñero. F
