Barracudas hold off C's rally for 6-4 win

The Challengers lost their first night game of the season on Thursday, June 23 at the Klopstockwiese against their cross-town rivals Zurich Barracudas. The Barracudas opened the score with four runs in the third inning and held on for a 6-4 victory.

Christina Klemme, Giulia Oswald and Christine Garcia opened the inning with back-to-back-to-back hits and the Challengers' defense added three errors in the same inning that enabled the Barracudas to take a 4-0 lead.

Brittany Howell put the C's on the scoreboard, as she belted a solo homer over the center field fence to make it 1-4. But the C's didn't gain the momentum, as Jessica Rölli and Ines Dübendorfer drove in two more runs for the Barracudas to extend the lead to 6-1.

With their backs against the wall the C's cut the deficit to three runs in the sixth frame, as Taylor Mc Cants scored on a passed ball and Simona Cellar drove in Brittany Howell and they added another run, as Andrea Wirth crossed the plate to make it 4-6 with two outs in the seventh inning, but the Barracudas managed to end the threat with the tying run on second base to eventually win 6-4.

Corina Grass outdueled Leandra Simitovic, as she allowed four runs - three earned - and eight hits with three walks, while striking out two for the win, while Simitovic allowed six runs - five earned - nine hits and four walks. Taylor Mc Cants and Brittany Howell led the C's offense with three hits apiece.

Game notes
The Challengers combined for a 3-0 record in night games in 2009 and 2010. ...Erica Federgreen gave her debut in blue and red. ...Brittany Howell is the first Challengers player belting more than one homerun in a season.