UP mauls Ateneo at start of UAAP softball

By Dugout Philippines

MANILA--University of the Philippines rode on Cochise Bernabe’s impressive pitching to trounce Ateneo, 11-0, in abbreviated fashion at the start of the UAAP Season 78 softball tournament on Saturday at the Rizal Memorial Baseball Stadium.

Bernabe struck out six batters as the Lady Maroons, last season’s runner-ups, needed only four meetings to prevail.

University of Santo Tomas, with pitcher Mary Ann Antolihao’s impressive defensive game, blanked University of the East, 4-0, while National University routed De La Salle, 10-2, to cap opening day action.

Action resumes on Monday with Adamson University, unbeaten in 62 games, opening its bid for a sixth consecutive crown against UST at 9 a.m. at the Malate venue.

Meanwhile, Ateneo shoots for the juniors crown against De La Salle-Zobel at 9 a.m. on Sunday, with the Blue Eaglets needing to win once to clinch the championship.

The Eaglets defeated the Junior Archers, 13-8, last Wednesday to complete a four-game sweep of the elimination round.

Follow the site on Twitter: @DugoutPH