UST trips NU to stay alive in UAAP softball semis

MANILA, Philippines -- University of Santo Tomas rallied from a three-run deficit to bundle out National University, 4-3, and stay alive in the UAAP Season 77 softball step-ladder semifinals on Wednesday at the Rizal Memorial Baseball Stadium.
     
Kris Lacupa's RBI single sent Anne Antolihao home in the seventh and final inning to complete the Tigresses' come-from-behind victory.
     
Up next for UST in the step-ladder phase is a duel with twice-to-beat University of the Philippines at 9 a.m. tomorrow, with the winner taking on defending champion Adamson University in the championship round.
      
Unbeaten in 60 matches, the Lady Falcons hold a thrice-to-beat advantage after sweeping the elimination round.
       
Antolihao pitched well for the Tigresses, striking out three batters after taking over in the third inning.
      
Lacupa, Hannah Mae Dela Torre and rookie Ricky Mae Latican had one RBI apiece in the pivotal bottom fifth, allowing UST to tie the count at 3-3.
      
The Tigresses hope to avenge their 4-7 loss to the Lady Maroons in the playoff for the No. 2 seed last Sunday.
      
NU, which eliminated La Salle via an abbreviated 11-0 victory also last weekend, committed four errors.  
      
Adamson, tipped to win in the league's remaining sport this season, will only play on March 24 if the step-ladder semifinals goes into the full route.