The Valparaiso University baseball team grabbed an early lead on Sunday afternoon with a chance to win two of three in the season’s opening series, but Mother Nature had other ideas as rain halted play in the middle of the third and eventually caused the game’s cancellation.

Prior to the inclement weather, Blake Billinger (Los Gatos, Calif. / St. Francis [Mission]) and Christian Barczi (Naperville, Ill. / Naperville North) ripped run-scoring singles in the third inning to snap a scoreless tie. Freshman Colin Fields (Libertyville, Ill. / Libertyville) had struck out three and pitched two scoreless frames to begin his collegiate debut. However, the stats from the game will be erased since the teams didn’t complete five innings.

Valpo will return to action on Friday night against Arkansas State for a game that begins at 6 p.m. CT in Jonesboro, Ark. Coverage information will be available on ValpoAthletics.com.