Challengers score early and finish off Devils 25-3 in 5 innings

Benny Räber not only ended his four-game winless streak on the mound, but also hit his first career homer at the plate in Game 1 of Sunday's doubleheader against the Wil Devils.

	Benny Räber hit his first career homer in his 78th at-bat in the NLA.

Cruising along with a huge 20-0 lead, Räber, usually having a DH when he pitches, used the rare opportunity to swing the bat, and he made the most out of it. He stepped up and smashed a high line drive over the left center field fences for a surprising solo homer in the second inning. He later added an RBI-double, capping a stellar 2-for-4 performance with three runs scored and also collecting three RBI's. His eight hits already set a career season-high.

Räber (3-3) completed his third game of the year in his 40th NLA start, allowing three runs - all of them unearned - on five hits and three walks, and also striking out five.

The Challengers sent 14 batters to the plate in both the first and second innings to take a 21-0 lead against the helpless Devils.

Harry Bregy received three walks in his first three plate appearances, Chris Palatinus also reached three times on two walks and a catcher's interference, and Jose Vazquez had two singles and a double in those two innings.

	Jose Vazquez hit two singles and a double in three at-bats to boost his batting average to .467.

Tobias Siegrist hit his fourth homer of the season in the first inning to extend his hitting streak to 10 games, and Thor Thoresen, entering the game with a team-low .217 batting average, also smashed his first homer of the season, a two-run shot off reliever Patrick Rüegg.

After three innings, the Challengers had a comfortable 25-0 lead, and it was clear that the double-mercy rule would be put into effect for the first time this season for the Challengers.

After Räber struck out the first batter of the fourth inning, shortstop Patrick Zöllig booted Berger's ground ball for his fourth error of the season, and another mistake by the infield loaded the bases for the Devils with two outs.

	Devil starter Keller managed only one out against the Challengers' offense.

Rüegg hit an RBI-single for the first Devil run, and Räber forced in another run with a bases-loaded walk to Ruckstuhl before retiring Eisenring on a ground out.

One more unearned run scored for the Devils in the top of the fifth inning, but that wasn't enough as the Challengers won their third game of this weekend after sweeping the Reussbühl Eagles on Saturday.

Game notes
Siegrist collected six RBI's, giving him 10 in his last four games. ...Palatinus tied Dany Spiegelberg for 12th place on the Challengers' all-time stolen bases-list with his career 52nd steal in the first inning.