Challengers 18, Flyers 12

The Challengers upset the favorites Flyers from Therwil by beating them 18-12 in the second game of their best-of-three playoff semifinal series to force a third and deciding game.

Thomas Landis>

Thomas Landis continued his torrid hitting by belting his 12th homer in his last 11 games.

It was the Flyers' first loss ever in a playoff semifinals in seven years.

The Challengers jumped on the Flyers' No. 2 starter Kleiber (6-3) who just lasted 3.1 innings, giving up eight runs on nine hits, including Thomas Landis' 12th homer in his last 11 games.

Both teams scored three runs in their halves of the first inning and the Flyers added three more in the bottom of the second off reliever Roger Brunner to go up 6-3. Starter Patrick Bosshard lasted just 0.2 innings, giving up three runs on as many hits.

The Challengers narrowed the score by getting two runs back in the top of the third on Landis' two-run shot and they went ahead for good in the fourth by scoring five times on three hits and one error.

Challengers ace Landis (10-6) relieved Brunner by then and allowed just seven baserunners over his first 4.1 innings.

The Flyers threatened once more in the bottom of the seventh as they scored three runs on pinch-hitter Daniel Eichenberger's two-run homer and a passed ball after a strikeout that allowed Andreas Mathis to score from third and close the gap to 10-11.

But the Challengers erupted for two runs in the eighth and five runs in the ninth thanks to three rare fielding errors by surehanded second baseman Fernando Abril and won the game easily 18-12.