Challengers outlast Cardinals 11-8

The Challengers had to win one of their remaining three games this season to grab the fourth and final Playoff spot. They sure hadn't envisioned that they would lock it up by outlasting the reigning Swiss Champions Bern Cardinals 11-8 in Game 1 of Sunday's doubleheader.

The two teams fought hard and got to the opponent's starting pitcher early on, playing to a 6-6 tie after just 2 1/2 innings.

Tobias Imboden for the Cardinals had issues finding the strike zone early on as he walked three batters in that span, one with the bases loaded.

Two errors by second baseman Edwin Hernandez and shortstop Raphael Hänzi didn't help his cause, either.

Tobias Siegrist (3-2), starting in only his fourth game this season, was roughed up by two doubles by Miro Bussmann and four singles in the second and third innings.

He stayed on the mound, though, as his offense provided him with plenty of power, getting two runs off Jesus Martinez' two-run double in the bottom of the third, and two more runs in the fourth on Harry Bregy's RBI-single and a throwing error by Imboden that made it 10-7 in favor of the Challengers.

After that, Imboden was relieved by Ryan Byrne who allowed just one more in the final 4 1-3 innings, but Siegrist also settled down and allowed himself just one more run on Hernandez' run-scoring ground out in th top of the fifth.

Of the final 12 batters, only Bussmann reached on an error by center fielder Bregy, but was quickly erased when Byrne lined out to second baseman Thomas Blank on a hit-and-run, enabling Blank to turn an easy 4-3 double play with Bussmann running hard towards second.

Robert Sedin once again led the offense with a 3-for-4 performance, scoring a season-high four runs and getting a steal, and Martinez ended up with a game-high three RBIs.

Game notes
The Challengers have advanced to the postseason for the 14th time in the last 16 seasons, missing it only last season and in 2008. ...Siegrist passed Roger Brunner for 3rd on the alltime list with 317 1-3 innings pitched. ...Bregy struck out for the 15th time this season, setting a new career high for a single season.