Barracudas withstand Challengers' rally, win 4-3

The first televised game in Swiss baseball history lived up to its expectations, and was won by the Zurich Barracudas 4-3.

Marc Schnider had five hits in six at-bats, and Frank Berchtold picked up the win by tossing five solid innings.

The Barracudas built up an early 4-0 lead after four innings.

Challengers starter Thomas Burger walked Ueli Von Burg with the bases loaded in the first inning after an error by left fielder Jesus Martinez and an intentional pass to JT Schroeder.

In the second inning, Schnider plated Marcel Ochsner with a double, and Chico Colindres followed with a run-scoring ground out to put his team ahead 3-0.

After a 1-2-3 third inning, Marc Schnider hit another single with two outs, scoring Ochsner from second base.

The Barracudas managed to load the bases after that, but Andy Rüesch struck out to end the threat.

In the meantime, the Challengers wasted huge opportunities to get on the board against Berchtold.

In the first inning, they loaded the bases with no outs, but both Chris Palatinus and Martinez struck out, and Thomas Blank hit into an inning-ending fielder's choice.

In the third inning, Saentis Zeller led off with a stand-up double, but was left stranded as Berchtold retired Thomas Landis and Tobias Siegrist on two fly outs, and rang up Palatinus on three strikes.

Berchtold only faced eight more batters in the fourth and fifth innings, before being pulled in favor of Jeff Mottl.

The Barracudas' efforts to score more runs were slowed down by Burger's solid pitching and an improved Challengers' defense. Schnider, having reached on a throwing error by shortstop Zeller in the sixth inning, got as far as third base on Rüesch's fielder's choice, but Von Burg lined out to right to end the inning.

The Challengers also came within 90 feet of scoring their first run as Palatinus was walked and stole second and third base before Bryan Shemley struck out against Mottl.

In the bottom of the seventh, Zeller hit his second double of the game with one out, and Siegrist finally brought him home with a double of his own.

With now two runners in scoring position, Mottl unleashed consecutive wild pitches that scored both Landis and Siegrist, bringing the Challengers within 4-3.

Mottl managed to close out the inning on two fly outs to center field, but he was given the hook after that.

Benni Montag came on, looking to pick up a tough save.

On the other hand, the Barracudas weren't done, yet. They managed to load the bases in the top of the eighth frame with no outs, but Rüesch lined out to Burger, Von Burg struck out swinging, and Strahil Georgiev was called out on strikes.

The Challengers were left helpless against Montag in the final two innings, seeing only Yonimiler Martinez reach first with a single.

Game notes
Siegrist has tied Anubis Benitez for 2nd place on the alltime list for doubles with 106.