Challengers drop Lions 10-3

The Challengers did what they had to do, but nothing more.

A little convincing 10-3 win in Game 1 of Saturday's doubleheader put little confidence in coach Palatinus' belief that the Challengers' batting woes have ended.

Jesus Martinez led the offense with two doubles and a single in four trips to the plate, Oliver Bernet collected a game-high four RBIs with three singles, and newly-acquired Craig Pycock went 2-for-3 with an RBI, three runs scored and two steals in his Challengers debut.

The Challengers jumped out to a 4-0 lead in the first inning with four hits, but little else came after that.

Challenger starter Andrea Girasole went five innings and allowed only one unearned run en route to his seventh win of the season, tied for fourth place in the league with Ryan Byrne of the Bern Cardinals.

Thomas Burger pitched four innings in relief, picking up his second save of the season.

He ran into trouble in the seventh inning as he walked the first two batters. Both of them scored on an RBI-single by Grimm and a wild pitch, but Burger managed to retire the next three batters to end the rally.

In the end, the victory was never in doubt, but the Challengers' wishes of finishing off the Lions in seven innings due to the mercy rule weren't granted.

Game notes
Burger's four innings pitched matched his season-high. The last time he pitched more than four innings was on May 29, 2010 against the Embrach Mustangs in a complete-game loss in eight innings.