Barracudas rip Challengers 22-3

The Challengers found no recipe against a superb Barracuda team that sort of avenged last year's defeats in the NLB Playoff Finals with a 22-3 rubbing.

By scoring five times in the opening frame, the Zurich Barracudas set an exclamation mark and never looked back.

Starting pitcher Roger Burger was forced out of the game after seven batters without recording an out, propelling his ERA to 243.00.

Simon Saxer threw the next six innings, giving up seven runs - none of them earned - on six hits and only two walks, while also striking out four.

But the Barracudas' André Eugster dominated the Challengers' batters, allowing only two runs over six innings.

Manuel Schretzmann was called upon to relieve Saxer in the seventh inning, but Schretzmann didn't manage to record an out, giving up nine unanswered runs on five walks and four hits.

Adderly Sarmiento, pitching for the first time in his career, took over and gave up only one more unearned run on one hit and one base-on-balls.

Beni Montag led his team's offense with a 4-for-5 showing, including two doubles, a sac bunt, and a stolen base.