Challengers rally in final two innings to salvage opening-day split

The second game of the 2003 season was as close as the first one, but this time with the better ending for the Challengers.

	Manny Marchant went 3-for-4 and collected four RBI's.

They rallied from a 4-0 deficit and scored five runs in the final two innings for a 5-4 victory.

Cardinals starter Christoph Beyeler annoyed the Challengers' offense, and completely shut them down over the first five innings.

On the other hand, the Cardinals scored one run each in four of the first five innings off starter Benny Räber.

They were also helped by a sloppy Challengers defense that committed seven errors leading to three unearned runs.

Räber threw well enough to be the winner, but he received no offensive support in his bid to pick up his seventh consecutive win.

He was lifted for reliever Harry Bregy in the top of the sixth inning, and Bregy didn't let his team down as he threw two shutout innings, giving up only a single to Raphael Hänzi and a walk to Ron Zimmermann in the seventh inning.

The Challengers broke loose against Beyeler in the bottom of the sixth.

	Benny Räber went five innings and allowed only one earned run.

Thomas Landis led off with a single, followed by Jose Valdez' double.

Manny Marchant finished Beyeler's day by lifting an offering deep over the center field fences for a three-run blast, bringing his team within just one run.

Severin Fries, who threw a complete game gem in Game 1, relieved and was promptly greeted by Nick Lehmann's solo shot to tie the game.

It was Lehmann's first homer since September 23, 2000.

Bregy (1-0) gave his offense a chance to finish the game without going to extra innings by shutting down the Cards' offense in the top of the seventh. Helped by a good throw from catcher Tobias Siegrist that caught runner Raphael Hänzi before he could reach second base, Bregy retired Sandro Negro for the final out.

The Challengers managed to put a runner aboard thanks to second baseman Angelo Rodriguez' bad throw on Anubis Benitez' grounder.

But Fries retired Kurt Kovac on a fielder's choice and Landis on a strikeout.

Valdez followed with a single to put runners at first and third with two down.

And the Challengers won with Marchant's third hit of the game, an infield single that couldn't be handled by shortstop Hänzi in time.

Game notes
Räber is 6-0 in nine starts since he last lost on September 1, 2001.