S87 Baseball: UST walks off UP in 9th inn comeback to clinch No. 3 seed

Just when University of Santo Tomas was on the verge of taking the game in the top of the ninth inning, University of the Philippines unleashed a four-run, two-out rally to gain control.

But the Golden Sox had one last run in them that almost mirrored what their foes did, utilizing a two-out rally to walk it off, 12-11, to secure the third seed in the UAAP Season 87 Baseball Final Four, Wednesday at the Rizal Memorial Baseball Stadium.

And it was team captain Mhigeil Cerda who played the hero in UST’s come-from-behind escape to set up a semifinals battle against twice-to-beat second-ranked De La Salle University on Tuesday.

“Hindi pa tapos ang laban. Kung ang UP nakapasok ng apat ng two outs na, hindi imposibleng makapasok rin tayo ng runs kahit may two outs na basta huwag lang sumuko. Breaks of the game nag error ang kalaban, tapos hit ng captain ball kong si Cerda, siguro milagro ang nangyari,” said long-time UST head coach Jeff Santiago.

Already down after squandering a 9-7 lead with two outs in the top of the ninth, Golden Sox’s Sean De Leon and Alwyn Piñero went down in the bottom of the ninth via separate groundouts that put the Fighting Maroons one out away from entering the Final Four.

But UST had other plans.

Cedrick Marquez first earned a walk before reaching home as John Vargas’ grounder that went straight to third baseman VJ Mangahas was thrown wildly to first base, resulting in an error, 10-11.

With Vargas on third base, UP head coach Iking Jimenez decided to gamble by intentionally walking Season 85 MVP Justine Rosales and Prince Harry Geronimo to load the bases and put Cerda at the batter’s box.

Cerda, who has been hitless all game, faced the music and drilled a flyball to right center field in between the outfielders to bring home Vargas and Rosales for the win that gave UST a 5-5 record and the third seed.

“Pinatunayan ko lang sa coaches and teammates ko kasi early game wala talaga akong palo, puro pop-up, binigyan ako ng pagkakataon para bumawi, ayun na-execute ko,” said an emotional Cerda postgame, still in disbelief.

With two outs in the top of the ninth stanza, John Mark Natanawan, Razhley Santos, and Darren Mayo all reached base safely that put the spotlight on LM Basañes who hit a fly ball to centerfield to empty the bases before scoring home himself after a throwing error to make it 11-9 in the Fighting Maroons’ favor.

UP actually coasted into a 7-1 lead, but UST took the momentum when Vargas hammered a booming three-run home run in the fifth inning.

Vargas led UST with two hits in three at-bats, finishing with four RBIs.

Marquez also had three hits in four at-bats while Jesus Cabigao pitched 8 and 2/3 innings, fanning eight, before Santiago replaced him with Geronimo when the bases were loaded.

UP ended the elimination round at 4-6, tied with Adamson University for the last Final Four Spot. They will engage in a playoff match on Saturday at 8 a.m. to determine the fourth seed.

Reigning MVP Ian Mercado paced the Fighting Maroons with four hits.

(C) UAAP Season 87 Media Team