Challengers sneak by Lions with 2-1 win

Thanks to an outstanding performance by starter Patrick Maier, the Challengers managed to edge the Zurich Lions 2-1 in Game 2 of Saturday's doubleheader.

Maier pitched 4 1-3 innings for his first win of the season, in which he gave up only a single run on an RBI-double by Mario Dreiding, walking six and striking out a career-high eight batters.

Palatinus pitched 2 2-3 shutout innings for his first career save.

Markus Streicher matched the Challengers' pitching staff as he allowed only two runs on four hits and six walks in a complete game effort. He nevertheless ended up with his third loss of the season as his offense couldn't find the rhythm.

The Challengers scored two runs on an RBI-single by Jesus Martinez in the third and Adrian Kämpfer">Adrian Kämpfer's run-scoring fielder's choice in the fourth inning.

Palatinus relieved Maier in the top of the fifth with the bases loaded and just one out. But he escaped the jam by getting Carlos Reyes to ground into an inning-ending double play on the first pitch.

Palatinus retired all but one batter he faced in the final two innings, while Streicher allowed just one Challenger to reach as far as second base in the final three innings.

Game notes
Palatinus tied Farid Bekkali for ninth place alltime with 168 2-3 innings pitched. ...The Challengers are 7-0 against the Lions dating back to 2001, the last season the Lions played in the NLA. ...The only other two 2-1 wins by a Challenger team in the last 18 seasons occured on June 27, 2009 against the Zurich Barracudas and on September 2, 2006 against the Bern Cardinals.