Challengers score late to win 14-8 against Eagles

Without two of their starters, but with three new additions, the Challengers overcame the Reussbühl Eagles 14-8 in Game 1 of Sunday's doubleheader.

	Manny Marchant pitched three innings in relief for his first win of the season.

The Challengers lineup was missing Armin Blickenstorfer">Armin Blickenstorfer and Roger Brunner, both on vacation, but they welcomed back Andy Fleischacker as their head coach after a 15-month absence.

Kurt Kovac also appeared in his first game as a Challenger after coming to the organization in the offseason from the Zurich Lions.

And Jose Valdez was also back in the lineup after changing his mind to retire.

Kovac went 2-for-2 with two walks and two runs scored, and Valdez' RBI-double in the bottom of the fourth inning tied the game at 6-6.

Fleischacker arrived during Game 1 after directly coming to the field from the airport. His team in Southern Florida lost in the playoffs, so he was free to join the Challengers, and he did it with a lot of joy and high expectations.

	Thomas Landis hit his first homer of the season in the sixth inning and collected a game-high four RBI's.

He wasn't disappointed as his team rallied for five runs in the bottom of the fourth inning on Harry Bregy's two-run double, Valdez' RBI-double and Anubis Benitez' two-run homer, his first of the season.

Manny Marchant relieved starter Benny Räber in the top of the fifth inning, and allowed an unearned run to score that brought the Eagles within 8-7.

But his offense continued to flourish as three more runners crossed the plate on Chris Palatinus' RBI-single, a run-scoring fielder's choice by Jose Valdez and a throwing error by the Eagle infield.

	Andy Fleischacker back in a Challenger uniform

Three more runs on Thomas Landis' two-run homer and an RBI-double by Palatinus put the game out of reach for the Eagles.

Räber didn't get the win as he went only four innings, allowing six runs - one of them unearned - on seven hits and four walks, while also striking out four. Instead, Marchant picked up the win in relief.

Game notes
Both runs Marchant allowed were unearned, extending his scoreless streak to four innings. ...Palatinus and Valdez are tied for third place on the Challengers all-time list with 216 hits apiece. ...Palatinus' double in the sixth inning was his 50th of his NLA-career. ...Benitez collected his 150th RBI in a Challenger uniform with his two-run homer in the bottom of the fourth inning. ...Landis collected his 400th career-RBI with his two-run homer in the sixth inning. ...Räber's win was his 40th of his career in the NLA.