Flyers profit from miserable Challenger defense, win 19-13

In the meeting of the two arch rivals, the Therwil Flyers were more prepared and ready to play, using a big six-run third inning to rip the Challengers 19-13.

A sloppy defense, combined with poor hitting with runners in scoring position, was all she wrote for the Challengers.

Although the E column read five for both teams, the Challengers' errors were much costlier as they led to nine unearned runs.

But the Challengers were also outhit 20-11, with Nelson Vilomar leading the attack with a 3-for-6 performance, including a grand slam and a solo homer.

The Flyers jumped on starter Thomas Burger right from the start. Catcher Tobias Siegrist's throwing error and Carlos Brito's two-run double pushed three runs across the plate in the opening inning.

It got even worse in the sixth inning as the Flyers hit four consecutive singles, and also profited from yet another error that scored six runs for a 9-0 lead.

Thanks to a generous scorer, most of the Flyer batters were credited with hits on plays that also could have been scored as errors.

It took the Challengers until the fourth inning before giving a sign of life. Chris Palatinus' run-scoring ground out put the first run on the board for the home team.

After four innings, coach Andy Fleischacker gave Burger the hook and summoned Willy Schaub from the bullpen.

He started well, but third baseman Geovanni Ureña's error to start the inning made Nelson Vilomar's two-out grand slam homer five batters later possible.

The Challengers came back strong in the bottom half of the inning, scoring five times off starter Stefan Koller. Thomas Landis' two-run double - his fourth of the year - and Patrick Zöllig's RBI-single highlighted that inning.

Koller didn't survive the inning and was relieved by Mario Cuevas. He induced Adrian Kämpfer">Adrian Kämpfer to hit into an inning-ending fielder's choice.

After a scoreless top in the sixth, the Challengers continued to pile up run after run. Siegrist's two-run single, a balk and a throwing error by shortstop Adrian Kaufmann shortened the Flyers' lead to 13-10.

But in the top of the seventh, Schaub lost it and surrendered three runs on a three-run homer by Cuevas.

Palatinus came on to relieve, and he was greeted by Vilomar with yet another homer.

In the final inning, the Flyers added two more runs on Kaufmann's solo homer and yet another error, this time by third baseman Siegrist, who misplayed an easy grounder with the bases loaded and two outs.

The Challengers managed to score three more runs in the bottom half of the inning on Landis' sac fly and Palatinus' two-run double, but with the bases loaded, Zöllig popped out to pitcher Cuevas to end the game.