RIZAL Technological University Lady Thunders did not mind 10 innings to survive an equally talented Cavite, 8-4, to stay unscathed in the ongoing Cebuana Lhuillier National Open Softball Championship at the Melvin Jones football grounds.
RTU relied on the heroics of Marlyn Francisco, who scored three homers, and Maricar Barientos, who had two, to overcome a three run deficit at the end of the first inning.
The Lady Thunders almost had their first defeat after four wins as they scampered for points in the first two innings. It was in the third inning when Francisco scored a home run while Barrientos also scored at the top of the fourth on a base hit.
Francisco then scored the game tying home on base hit in the fifth inning with Barrientos adding another at the top of the ninth. The game winning homer was scored at the top of the tenth with four RTU clouters scoring where Francisco was one of them.
Adamson University earlier reasserted its dominance by blanking Polytechnic University of the Philippines, 6-0, in a five-inning duel. It was the Lady Falcons' third straight win in Group A.
Mama Sita's-University of the Philippines blasted University of Cordillera, 10-1, to assume second position in Group A behind Adamson.
University of Santo Tomas proved too tough to handle, needing only three innings to dispose Bulacan State U, 11-1, in a Group B encounter.
In the men's contest, the Philippine Blu Girls team demolished the batters from BRMP of Benguet, 9-2.
Joyce Lasquete held their rivals without a hit and a run in the second inning while back-to-back singles by lead-off batter Sarah Agravante and Gina Salvador-Bacus triggered the Blu Girls' victory in this tournament which serves as a fitting preparation for the squad in the coming Asian Games.
Three runs by the Blu Girls at the bottom of the first inning was enough to break the game wide open and set up the squad's breakaway victory.
Overshadowed by the Blu Girls' triumph was Rizal Technological University's domination of host Baguio City, 11-3, to make it to the crossover semifinal round.
The Blue Thunders rained 13 hits, five of them coming in the first and third frames against a pair of Baguio hurlers to secure their fourth straight victory and move a win away from sweeping the six-team Group A division of this series.
Dasmariñas Cavite earlier handed R and R of Benguet its first loss in three games following a masterful 6-1 triumph. It was the first win in four outings for the Caviteños.
Joemar Valderama and Esme Sta. Maria joined forces in Bulacan State University's 12-0 shutout win over St. Louis University of Baguio. (Roderick Osis)