Fernandez, Tiger Softbelles secure UAAP bronze

Erika Fernandez saved her best game for last, delivering a clutch performance in her farewell appearance to help University of Santo Tomas (UST) secure the University Athletic Association of the Philippines (UAAP) Season 87 softball bronze medal with a hard-fought 8-7 victory over De La Salle University on Tuesday at the Rizal Memorial Baseball Stadium.

This marks the Tiger Softbelles’ third consecutive third-place finish, and fittingly, it was Fernandez who powered them to victory with a stellar three-hit outing, including a home run in the first inning that set the tone for the game.

With fellow graduating senior Lyca Blanco already making solid contact against La Salle starter Joerjette Jordan, Fernandez seized the moment, perfectly timing a pitch and sending the ball deep into right field beyond the reach of Glecilyn Alipato for a two-run homer.

The Tanauan City native, who honed her skills at the First Asia Institute of Technology and Humanities, continued her offensive onslaught with two more hits in the fourth and sixth innings. She also notched another RBI in the fourth, driving in Blanco for an additional run.

La Salle made a determined push in the bottom of the seventh, cutting the deficit to just one run at 8-7.

However, UST’s substitute pitcher Celine Chang took control, swiftly handling two short fly balls. The former Chinese Taipei U18 standout then delivered the final out, inducing a fly ball to Jazmin Visaya, which last season’s Rookie of the Year, Helga Campos, effortlessly caught to seal the win.

“We knew we could beat La Salle. We had the advantage in pitching and hitting, so I just had to keep the players composed,” UST head coach Sandy Barredo said.

“You saw it in the first inning — four runs right away. Of course, there were lapses, but we just needed to remind them to stay focused. Same with our pitchers. If one struggled, we had another ready to step in. That was our approach.”

Campos also had a strong outing at the plate, delivering two doubles, the first of which drove in Jojielyn Lim and rookie Anne Patricio for two RBIs in the four-run opening inning. Patricio contributed as well, launching a home run in the third inning that brought both her and Lim across the plate.

Despite finishing in fourth place, La Salle put up a valiant fight, led by second-year standout Tiffany Labargan.

A product of Dasmariñas Integrated High School, Labargan recorded two crucial hits, including a two-RBI single in the third inning that trimmed the deficit to 4-3 by bringing Jeryll Duller and Cassandra Inot home. She later added another clutch hit in the seventh, keeping La Salle within striking distance at 8-7.