Challengers throw away Game 1

Another poor defensive showing gave the Challengers a 9-6 loss to the Sissach Frogs in Game 1 of Saturday's doubleheader.

It was the first loss by the Challengers against the Frogs since September 3, 2005.

Despite outhitting their opponents 13-10, including two triples by Yonimiler Martinez and Jesus Martinez, the six errors in the field were just too much to overcome.

Christian Klarer went seven innings for the win, while Thomas Burger lasted only four innings, allowing seven runs - five of them unearned - on six hits, three walks, while also striking out two.

Five different Challengers had two hits, and Bryan Shemley remained the only starter without a hit.

Trailing 5-0 after 3 innings, the Challengers got their first run on Jesus Martinez' RBI-single. In his next at-bat Martinez drilled an offering by Klarer into the left center field gap for an RBI-triple.

Two batters earlier, Yonimiler Martinez hit his first career triple.

Tobias Siegrist relieved Burger after he allowed the first three batters to reach in the fifth inning, and went on to allow just two more runs the rest of the game.

But the Challengers' offense was inapt to get to Klarer and closer Peter Rüfenacht, scoring only two more runs in the final three innings.

Game notes
Jesus Martinez' RBI-single in the fourth inning was his 50th RBI with the Challengers, and Siegrist scored his 300th career run on it. ...Carlos Peña popped out to right in the third inning in his 200th at-bat with the Challengers. ...Burger extended his career-high losing streak to six games, with his last win dating back to April 18, 2009.