Challengers 11, Cardinals 3

The Challengers used a big 6-run second inning to beat the Bern Cardinals 11-3 in Game 1 of Saturday's doubleheader.

Thomas Landis>

Thomas Landis recorded his fourth win with a complete-game three-hitter.

The first four Challengers reached in the second inning on two walks, an error and a double by Roger Brunner. After Nick Lehmann popped out for the first out, another error by right fielder Severin Fries allowed Brunner to score for a 3-0 lead.

On a first-and-third situation, manager Marvin Moore ordered a double steal, and Benny Räber successfully stole home and Gary Kochlefl second. Makoto Fukamachi batted in Kochlefl with a single for the sixth run and a commanding 6-0 lead after just two innings.

The Challengers added another run in the third inning, while the Cardinals scored their first in the fourth on Marco Haas' RBI-double.

The Cards used two rare errors by the Challengers' defense in the fifth to score two more, but that was all they could do against starter Thomas Landis.

Landis (4-0) mastered the Cards by giving up just three runs - one earned - on three hits and four walks while striking out nine in his third complete game of the season. He's now tied with Vladi Pusec for most career complete games with 21.

He also added a two-run homer in the sixth inning, his third homer of the season, tying him with Jose Valdez for most homers with the Challengers this season. It was his 37th homer in 501 career NLA at-bats with the Challengers.