Waite outduels Sedin in 5-3 win

Robert Sedin and Benji Waite of the Bern Cardinals engaged in a pitchers duel, and the Cardinals again used one big inning to take a 2-0 Series lead with a 5-3 win in Game 1 of Sunday's doubleheader in Bern.

Waite retired the first 16 batters he faced in order, before he lost his bid at a perfect game within three batters.

The Cardinals struck first as Samy Paulino reached on an error by shortstop Saentis Zeller, and later scored on Seth Suplin's sacrifice fly to deep center.

That 1-0 lead held up until the top of the sixth. That's when Waite hit Bryan Shemley with a pitch with one out, and Harry Bregy and Zeller followed with back-to-back singles to tie the game at 1 apiece.

But the Cards responded promptly and put a 3 on the board in the bottom half of the sixth.

Suplin led off by getting hit-by-pitch, Johnny Perigo reached on a throwing error by third baseman Craig Pycock trying to force Suplin at second. His throw sailed wide off second, and right fielder Shemley then misplayed the ball, enabling Suplin to score all the way from first.

Waite then walked and Raphael Hänzi loaded the bases with a single.

Sedin got Tobias Imboden to strike out for the first out of the inning, but Miro Bussmann followed with a line drive single to left field that scored both Perigo and Waite for a 4-1 lead.

Sedin escaped further damage by making a spectacular diving grab of Angelo Rodriguez' popped up bunt attempt, and Paullino lined out to second baseman Thomas Blank to end the threat.

But the Cards added an insurance in the seventh as Perigo lined a two-out double to center field and later came around on Sedin's only wild pitch of the game.

The Challengers remained silent against Waite in the seventh and eighth innings before Zeller led off the ninth with a single, followed by a steal, a wild pitch, a walk to Sedin and another steal to put two runners in scoring position with no outs.

Tobias Siegrist plated Zeller with a sacrifice fly to left field, and also advancing Sedin to third on the ensuing throw home.

Jesus Martinez grounded out to third for the second out and the Challengers' third run before Pycock struck out swinging for the final out of the game.

Game notes
Zeller was the only Challenger with two hits as he accounted for two of the Challengers' four hits.