THE UST Tiger Softbelles’ game against the Ateneo Blue Eagles on Saturday at the Rizal Memorial Baseball Stadium was postponed in the bottom of the third inning due to heavy rains.
The game began around 11 a.m. It was halted less than an hour later Ateneo was at bat in the bottom of the third inning, with UST leading 9-4.
UAAP umpires called the game off after nearly an hour of deliberation. It will be replayed at a later date.
“Gusto ko nga ituloy kaso lumakas ‘yong ulan,” UST head coach Sandy Barredo told the Varsitarian.
The Softbelles started strong, jumping to a 4-0 lead after Lyca Blanco, Angel Bedaño, Royeve Palma, and rookie Anne Patricio crossed home plate.
Rocio Macasaet secured Ateneo’s first run of the tournament, sending rookie Shenna Europa’s pitch for an inside-the-park home run, 4-1.
Asteria Franco cut the lead to two later in the inning, scoring from an Ashlee Tuprio single, 4-2.
UST widened the lead after driving in five more runs in the top of the second and third innings, 9-2.
In the bottom of the third, Franco delivered again after a single to center field scored Macasaet, 9-3, before the game was halted.
Barredo said he is confident the suspension will not affect his team’s performance in the restart as long as both the offense and defense step up.
“Wala namang advantage tsaka disadvantage sa amin e basta kami, maglalaro lang,” he added. “Kung maganda ang laro ng mga bata, zero ‘yang kalaban all the way. Kung hindi tatama, e ‘di wala rin, useless din.”
THE Tiger Softbelles are scheduled to close out the first round against the UP Fighting Maroons on Tuesday, March 11, at 8 a.m.
