Challengers again rally from 8-0 deficit to sweep Barracudas 12-10

Trailing 8-0 after 1 1/2 innings, not even the Challengers believed that they could turn it around.

	Anubis Benitez had a game-high three hits and now leads all Challengers with a .500 batting average.

But having the reputation as one of the best comeback teams in Switzerland, they took one step after another, and also profited from an unexpected pitching performance to sweep the Zurich Barracudas with a 12-10 win in Game 2 of Saturday's doubleheader.

Oli Christen started on the mound for the Challengers but didn't last long as he gave up four walks and a single, and also balked to collect three earned runs having retired only a single batter on a strikeout.

Marchant relieved unusually early in the game and closed the inning with two strikeouts, but also with a walk.

It came even worse in the top of the second inning. Marchant wasn't able to find the zone, and when he did, the Barracudas jumped on his fastballs and scored five more runs for an 8-0 lead.

Player-coach Chris Palatinus, filling in for Chad Smith who's at the European Cup with the Eagles' softball team, had to make a move and went to Anubis Benitez who didn't pitch this year so far.

	Stefan Suter gave away the game, allowing three runs - one of them earned - on four hits and a walk.

Benitez retired the first two batters he faced before giving up a single. But he managed to retire no.9 batter Isik on a pop up back to the mound to finish off the inning.

Barracuda starter Sandro Giambonini was then roughed up in the bottom half of the second inning as he gave up three doubles, two singles and a walk that led to five runs.

In the top of the third, Benitez allowed just a single unearned run for a score of 9-5 after 2 1/2 innings.

Rookie Patrick Zöllig then brought his team closer with a two-run single, and they were even able to tie the score at 9-9 in the next inning, profiting from a wild pitch by reliever Stefan Suter and a throwing error by second baseman Patrick Knecht.

Ueli Von Burg then led off the fifth inning with a solo shot to give his team again a temporary 10-9 lead, but that was all the scoring the Barracudas could produce off Benitez.

	Harry Bregy had just a single in four at-bats but probably saved the game for the Challengers with his fantastic glove at first base.

Benitez appeared for the first time on the mound since pitching two shutout innnings against the Therwil Flyers in Game 2 of July 18, 1999's doubleheader. He picked up the win by pitching six innings, allowing two runs - one of them unearned - on six hits and no base-on-balls, and also striking out three.

He also helped himself with a game-high three hits to boost his team-leading batting average to .500.

The Challengers took the lead in the bottom of the fifth inning when Benitez scored on Nick Lehmann's RBI-single, and second baseman Patrick Knecht's third error of the game enabled him to score from second base.

Benitez protected his team's lead, and his offense gave him an extra-run to work with as substitute second baseman Alain Chisari threw away Harry Bregy's grounder that scored Joe Cox from second base.

With Saturday's two losses, the Barracudas hold a record of 10-11 with a doubleheader remaining against the Embrach Rainbows this Sunday. They will have to win both of those games to have a realistic shot at the final playoff spot, or else would be eliminated from the playoffs for the second time in a row after winning the Championship in 1996 and 1997.

Game notes: Benitez tied last season's totals for hits and RBI's by getting his 57th hit and 35th RBI. ...Lehmann struck out looking in the 3rd inning in his 400th career NLA at-bat.