Barracudas hand Challengers first loss 17-11

After winning their third straight game in Game 1 of Saturday's doubleheader, the Zurich Barracudas handed the Challengers their first loss of the season with a strong offensive effort.

The Challengers again started the scoring by putting two runs on the board on RBI-singles by Jose Valdez and Chris Palatinus.

But starter Thomas Landis was roughed up for seven runs - five of them earned - in the bottom half of the first inning.

Holger Schmidt had a two-run double, and the Challenger defense committed two errors, both by shortstop Joe Cox.

But the Challengers managed to retake the lead as they scored six times off starter Kölliker in the top of the second inning. Last year's Rookie of The Year Tobias Siegrist capped the inning with an RBI-double that sent Kölliker to the showers. He was replaced by Guilermo Castro.

The Barracudas again turned the game around and scored two more runs off Landis for a 9-8 lead.

Landis was then replaced by Valdez who pitched the next 2 2-3 innings.

And the Barracudas went on to score and extended their lead to 14-8 after three innings by getting five hits off Valdez in the third inning.

Barracuda left fielder Manu Hirtz then hit a homer in the bottom of the fourth inning for the first four-bagger of the weekend.

Oli Christen relieved Valdez for the final two innings, giving up two runs - none of them earned - on two hits and two walks, striking out two.

By the start of the seventh and final inning, the Barracudas were leading 17-8 when the Challengers started one more attack.

Siegrist led off the inning with the first and only Challenger homer that day. Armin Blickenstorfer">Armin Blickenstorfer, Benitez and Landis hit three doubles off reliever Von Burg and another run scored on first baseman Bekkali's fielding error.

The Barracudas then decided to intentionally walk Valdez to load the bases with two outs and face Palatinus who had a league-leading three grand-slams last year.

But this time he struck out for the final out of the game.

Game Notes: Valdez' single in the first inning was his 300th total base of his Challenger NLA-career. He ranks fifth on the alltime list. ...The two teams have an 11-11 record against each other over the last six seasons.