Ladies finally win a local derby

The Softball-Team posted a 9-7 victory over their local rivals Zürich Barracudas on Thursday night at the Klopstockwiese to avoid a season-series sweep. The Challengers stopped their five-game losing streak and won for the first time against the Barracudas since June 28, 2011 after losing seven straight in that span.

The C's jumped out to an early lead, as Taylor Mc Cants delivered a two-run double to open the score in the bottom of the first inning, followed by a RBI-groundout from Simona Cellar and a RBI-single from Jennifer Montague to make it 4-0. And the Challengers' bats were on fire. Mc Cants added another two-run double, followed by a two-run single from Cellar and a RBI-double from Montague to open the gap to 9-0 after two frames.

Challengers starter Leandra Simitovic kept the Barracudas under control, as she gave up only two hits and one walk in the first four innings. But things suddenly got complicated for the Challengers. With the bases loaded and no outs the C's were one run away from the victory in the fourth, but the Barracudas defense escaped the jam with the infield in to prolong the game.

In the fifth inning the Barracudas again stood with their backs against the wall. With two outs they delivered four hits to close the gap to four runs. And they added two more runs in the seventh frame to make it 7-9, but Simitovic and her defense recorded the final two outs with the tying run at the plate to seal the deal.

Taylor Mc Cants went 3-for-4 and drove in four, while Simitovic and Montague had three hits apiece.

The Challengers remain in fourth place with a 4-10 record. They will face the reigning Swiss champion Luzern Eagles on Saturday, June 29 at Reussbühl.

Game notes
For the first time in 2013 three different players had more than two hits in one game, as Simitovic, Mc Cants and Montague delivered three hits each. ...The Challengers tied the season-high for hits with 14. They also had 14 hits on May 25 in Game 1 against the Wil Devils.