Staff photo / Neel Madhavan South Range’s Solena DeJesus pitches during the Raiders’ postponed game against Mineral Ridge on Thursday in Weathersfield.

WEATHERSFIELD — Mother nature proved to be too much for both South Range and Mineral Ridge on Thursday evening.

With a front of strong thunderstorms looming, the game was called in the top of the fourth inning with the Raiders leading the Rams 4-3.

Both teams have high aspirations in their respective conferences this season, as the Rams (13-4-1, 12-0) sit alone atop the MVAC – Scarlet Tier, while the Raiders (11-5, 7-0) are tied with Lakeview at the top of the Northeast 8 standings.

After South Range went down 1-2-3 in the top of the first, Mineral Ridge struck first in the bottom of the frame when Laney Rigley got on base with a double, advanced to third and was able to cross home plate on a passed ball.

In the top of the second, the Raiders took their first lead of the game thanks to a two-run homer deep to center field by Anna Aey that also scored Giada Pauline, who got on base after a walk.

However, the Rams responded in kind in the bottom of the inning with a pair of runs to retake the lead 3-2. First, Lily Merolillo scored on a passed ball after reaching with a lead-off single, and then Rigley drove in the second run three at-bats later.

Both teams went three-up, three-down in the third inning before the Raiders pulled ahead again in the top of the fourth. After a triple from Sophia Brogan, she was able to score a run when her older sister, Keira Brogan, reached on a fielding error.

Aey then added to her performance with an RBI double to put South Range ahead. As Aey’s grounder rolled into the outfield, thunder sounded and the umpires called the game in the top of the fourth inning with two outs on the board and Aey standing on second base with Heidi Bartels due up for the Raiders.

Initially, the two teams retreated into the Mineral Ridge school building in the hopes of waiting out the storm. But as the torrential rains continued, the field became unplayable and forced the postponement.

South Range head coach Jeff DeRose said the two teams will coordinate their respective schedules to find a later date to finish the game.