Challengers outlast Flyers 7-5

The Challengers redeemed themselves and took the second game of Saturday's doubleheader against the Therwil Flyers with a 7-5 win.

Although the Flyers built up a quick 4-0 lead after the first half inning, the Challengers managed to come back, scoring seven times off starter Reto Siegel to seal the win.

The Flyers used starter Oliver Labhart's lack of command and put the first three runners on to lead off the game. Stefan Koller hit an RBI-single, and after LaTorre got caught stealing home, Daniel Eichenberger smacked a two-run homer over the center field fences for a three-run lead.

But the Flyers weren't done, yet, getting another run on Nelson Vilomar's sacrifice fly for a 4-0 lead.

The Challengers wasted no time getting back into the game, scoring three times on Tobias Siegrist's homer off Siegel to right center field, his first of the season.

After that high-scoring first inning, both teams settled down. Oliver Labhart shut down the Flyers' offense completely over the next three innings before allowing an uneanred run in the fifth inning.

The Challengers managed to take the lead in the bottom of the second inning on Patrick Zöllig's RBI-double and Anubis Benitez' run-scoring fielder's choice for a 5-4 lead.

They added two more in the fourth inning on Siegrist's two-run single, giving him five RBI's on the game.

After that, Vilomar took over on the mound for the Flyers and retired the last six Challengers in order.

But his offense couldn't get it going, either.

After they loaded the bases with one out in the top of the sixth, rookie Thomas Burger was summoned to take over for Labhart.

He threw one single pitch to induce Siegel to hit into an inning-ending 4-6-3 double play.

Eichenberger's line drive single was the only hit he allowed in the final inning, closing the game for his first save in the NLA.

With that win, the Challengers remain in first place in the Qualification Round of the five best teams in Switzerland. They are tied with the Sissach Frogs and lead both the Bern Cardinals and Zurich Barracudas by one game.

Game notes
Siegrist's five RBI's are the most since getting four against the Cardinals on September 14, 2003. His career high is eight against the Barracudas on July 3, 2004. ...Burger picked up his first career win in the NLA earlier this year in a 13-7 win against the Reussbuhl Eagles on May 7.