The University of Santo Tomas Golden Sox struggled to find their rhythm against the UP Fighting Maroons, 2-7, in the UAAP Season 87 baseball tournament on Wednesday, March 26, at the Rizal Memorial Baseball Stadium.

National team and UP pitcher Kobe Torres stifled UST’s offense allowing seven hits and one earned run.

UST pitcher Jesus Cabigao absorbed UP’s early offensive onslaught, conceding five runs on eight hits in the first four innings before yielding the mound to Prince Harry Geronimo, 1-4.

UST’s offense failed to capitalize despite Geronimo limiting UP to two runs on three hits,

The Golden Sox saw a fighting chance in the seventh inning when Sean De Leon and Mhigeil Cerda strung together back-to-back hits to cut the deficit to five, 2-7.

UP’s Emman Cahilo and captain Ian Mercado however, secured crucial fly-ball outs from Cedrick Marquez and Cabigao in left and center field, respectively, to shut down UST’s rally.

UST had one last opportunity in the ninth when Cerda drew a walk, but Mercado sealed the win for UP with a catch on Steven Dominguez’s fly ball.

Defensive struggles continued to haunt the Golden Sox who committed five errors, compared to UP’s single miscue.

UST are tied at the bottom of the standings with the Ateneo Blue Eagles with a 1-4 record.

The schedule for the second round has yet to be announced by the league.