Challengers rally with four runs in sixth inning for 13-12 win

The Challengers got some redemption for their season-opening blowout losses against the Sissach Frogs.

	Tobi Siegrist

The offense combined for 12 hits, including two doubles and a two-run homer by catcher Tobias Siegrist to win Game 1 of Saturday's doubleheader 13-12.

The Challengers used a big five-run first inning, getting a two-run double by Siegrist, a perfect sac bunt by Adrian Kämpfer">Adrian Kämpfer, an RBI-double by Thomas Blank and an RBI-single by his younger brother Beni Blank.

The Frogs scored three times off starter Patrick Zöllig in the next inning to cut the lead to 5-3, but the Challengers got two runs back on Siegrist's two-run four-bagger for a 7-3 lead after two frames.

Entering the fifth inning, the Challengers still held on to a 7-4 lead, but the Frogs finally solved Zöllig, and also profited from two errors, scoring five unearned runs for a 9-7 lead.

The Challengers managed to come back and tie the game in their half of the inning. Siegrist and Bryan Shemley reached on a double and a single, and they both stole home during the inning to knot the score at 9 all.

But the Frogs continued to put the pressure on Zöllig and his defense. A steal of home by Wiedmer and an error on Mike Klee's fly ball gave the Frogs the lead one more time at 11-9.

Pinch hitter Protim Datta led off the bottom of the eighth and reached on a single. He later scored on Siegrist's RBI-single.

Zöllig tied the game as he crossed the plate on Shemley's RBI-single, and Claudio Deck's two-run single with two outs capped the inning.

The Frogs managed to score one more unearned run off Zöllig in the top of the seventh for the final score of 13-12. Zöllig completed the game for his first win of the season. Nine of the runs he gave up were unearned, and he also walked 14 batters. And amazingly, he also struck out 10 batters.