MANILA -- University of Santo Tomas mounted a crucial sixth-inning rally to fend off De La Salle University, escaping with a 12-9 victory to open the UAAP Season 87 Softball Tournament on Tuesday at the Rizal Memorial Baseball Stadium.

The win allowed the Tiger Softbelles to avert what would have been their first loss to the Lady Green Batters since the opening day of UAAP Season 77—a 7-3 defeat back on January 24, 2015.

Trailing by a run entering the sixth inning, UST capitalized on a shaken Lady Batters squad.

With Ann Patricio and Teresa Blanco on base, Jenny Teves smashed a triple to left field, which third baseman Julianne Moral failed to secure. This allowed Patricio to score the tying run before Blanco crossed home plate for the go-ahead.

UST's Ann Patricio in action against La Salle in the UAAP Season 87 softball tournament, February 25, 2025 at the Rizal Memorial Baseball Stadium. UAAP Media

A costly error by right fielder Ciarina Eder led to two more UST runs, giving the Tiger Softbelles a commanding 12-8 lead heading into the final inning.

Sophomore pitcher Celine Chang, who initially started the game but was subbed out in the third inning before returning in the fifth, held off La Salle in the final frame to secure UST’s first win.

"Nag-improve naman kami from preseason pero kulang pa. Napaganda yung opening game. At least, nanalo kami," said long-time UST head coach Sandy Barredo.

"Kulang pa sa exposure mga pitchers ko. Pinagpahinga lang ni Ann (Antolihao, pitching coach) si Celine. Buti naman, naka-hold," added Barredo, who relied on Chang and freshman Shienna Europa to handle the pitching duties.

Both teams put on a hitting clinic, with the Tiger Softbelles collecting 15 hits while the Lady Batters tallied 10.

Rookie second baseman Helga Campos, first baseman Genesis Degollacion, and Teves each recorded two RBIs. Lead-off batter and graduating senior Lyca Blanco also went a perfect 2-for-2 at the plate.

UST faces a tough challenge in its next game on Saturday against defending champion Adamson.

La Salle, led by the hot bats of Cassandra Inot, Tiffany Labargan, and Glecilyn Alipato, jumped to a 5-3 lead after three innings, forcing Barredo to pull Chang in favor of Europa.

Though UST managed to tie the game in the fourth, La Salle’s explosive fifth inning set the stage for the Tiger Softbelles' decisive rally in the sixth.

The Lady Batters will look to bounce back when they take on Ateneo on Saturday.