The 2002 Titans Tour is in full stride...

Nesty Leyson delivered the go-ahead run in the top of the last inning and Jeff Rodriguez went 4 for 4 with a double and a three-run homer as the Titans won the tail-end of a doubleheader against Marist, 6-5, averting a two-game sweep by the hosts in the opening series of the 2002 Titans Tour.

The Maristians had pulled out a nail-biter in the opener, 2-1, behind a combined one-hitter from Maynard Ocampo and Jayson Santiago. The series hosts snuffed a late Titans rally when Santiago struck out newcomer Eric Pangindian to end the game with the tying run 90 feet away.

In line with the Titans Baseball Club's mission, the Tour's objectives are as follows: (1) to prime various adult baseball teams in the country for national competitions, (2) to maintain a competitve environment for Philippine baseball, (3) to tap various adult baseball interest groups/individuals seeking to play baseball in both the recreational and competitive setting, and (4) to promote the club's long-term activities.

Rodriguez's blast off starter Alvin Santos opened the scoring in the third. The Titans would add another run in the inning to take a 4-0 lead that would be short-lived. Marist gets three back in their half on DeLara's two-run double and Santos' rbi single. The Maristians would go ahead an inning later on Rodriguez's throwing error and Eugene Dajac's run scoring single.

But Rodriguez would atone for his miscue with an rbi single to tie the game in the fifth, setting up the Titans' last inning rally.

Santiago, the third Marist pitcher, enters the seventh, but let the first three batters he faced reach base. Leyson followed with a groundout that proved to be the game-winner. Sky Rosales then shuts down Marist in the last frame to preserve the win.