Challengers blow 10-8 lead in final inning

The Challengers were just two outs away from winning their first games in eight tries, but the Uzwil Helvetics rallied for 15 runs in the bottom of the sixth inning to hand the Challengers' NLB-team its eighth defeat in a row.

The Challengers managed to build up a 4-0 lead after 2 1-2 innings on several errors by the Helvetics' defense, and a poor pitching performance by starter Sopa, but Challenger starter Claudio Deck blew the lead in the bottom of the third as he allowed four singles and a walk that handed the Helvetics the lead at 5-4.

But his offense rallied for five runs in the next inning thanks to back-to-back doubles by Willy Schaub and Orlando Balbuena, and Oliver Deck's RBI-single.

Claudio Deck managed to protect the lead through the fifth inning, although allowing three more runs to score in the bottom of the fifth inning, but his offense wasn't able to crack reliever Wicki's pitching rhythm.

The Challengers went into the bottom of the sixth inning with a 10-8 lead, but four consecutive singles to lead off the inning chased Claudio Deck and started the flood.

Sopa's three-run homer and Garnitschnig's RBI-double capped a huge 15-run inning for the Helvetics.

After that attack, the Challengers managed to mount only a small comeback as they scored four more runs in the top of the seventh and final inning on two errors and Oliver Deck's two-run double for the final score of 23-14.