Flyers edge Challengers 5-3

The Challengers dropped their fourth game in a row this season after suffering another tough 2-run loss to the Therwil Flyers.

Takanobu Oshima and two relievers allowed just one earned run all game, with Adrian Kaufmann picking up the save.

For the Challengers, Fabio Aimi (0-2) started and lasted only three innings, giving up four runs on eight hits and one base-on-balls, while also striking out four. He strained his quadriceps warming up before the game, but nevertheless tried to pitch through the pain.

Robert Sedin relieved him in the fourth inning in his pitching debut for the Challengers, and pitched the next four innings, allowing just one more run on back-to-back doubles by Reto Siegel and Chris Blackbee in the seventh inning.

On the other hand, Sedin didn't fare well at the plate as he lined out to center three times, and also left two men in scoring position in the sixth inning.

The Challengers struck first on a couple of passed balls by Emanuel Raouzeos, but then struck out twice in a row with a runner in scoring position.

After that, the Flyers took command and scored two runs each in the second and fourth innings to take a 4-1 lead after five innings.

In the top of the sixth, Oshima walked Stephan Pribitzer to open the inning, which made his day.

Blackbee relieved and allowed the inherited runner to score on a single by Saentis Zeller.

Zeller later also came around on Tobias Siegrist's run-scoring ground out which cut the deficit to one run.

But Blackbee retired Sedin and Kurt Kovac to end the threat.

Again, the Challengers had just one single hit with men in scoring position, a big problem that showed up in the four losses this season.

Zeller's 3-for-4 was the only highlight for a measly Challengers' offense that had just seven hits, and is now batting a ridiculous .147 in the first four games of the season.

The Challengers were also missing three players as Gabe Staub, Matt Tsukroff and Freddy Bättig were no-shows for the doubleheader.

Things will have to change offensively if the Challengers were have to have a chance for a playoff spot this season. Six of seven starters are batting .200 or below, and the seven hits this game is the highest total in a game this season.

Next up are the promoted Wil Devils, against who the Challengers are hoping to turn around their fortunes.

Game notes
Zeller scored his 300th run in the NLA as he came around in the sixth inning. ...The Challengers were shorthanded in pitching all day as Thomas Burger got ejected in the first game after arguing with base umpire Urs Köstinger. ...The 0-4 start into the season is the worst in franchise history since going 0-3 into the 1997 season.