Challengers also lose fourth Zurich derby

The Challengers lost also the fourth derby against their cross-town rivals Zurich Barracudas this season. The game was very even for a long time before the Barracudas pulled away in the eighth inning, ultimately winning 11-4.

After their decisive defeat in last Friday’s local derby, the Challengers started way better this time. Pitcher Tate Stone-Frisina had a good night and the offense was up to speed right from the start. James Sanders delivered an RBI single in the first inning to make it 1-0. Although the Barracudas were able to score two runs themselves following a Challengers error, the home team answered in the third. After a leadoff single by Carsten Zuber, Säntis Zeller, James Sanders, and Noam Blickenstorfer had RBI-singles to make it 4-2. But the Barracudas found the antidote to the Challengers’ bats in Nicholas Miceli. The former German champion, with the Bonn Capitals, didn’t allow a single hit in six innings as a reliever and recorded twelve strikeouts. Meanwhile, the Challengers defense gave away the lead with numerous errors. These initially tied the game at 4-4 in the sixth inning, before the Barracudas retook the lead 5-4 in the seventh. In the eighth inning the visitors then sealed the victory with six runs, making it 11-4.

It wasn’t pitcher Stone-Frisina’s fault. He gave up eleven hits and eleven runs, but only one of those was earned. He also recorded eleven strikeouts. The Challengers defense ultimately totaled no fewer than nine errors – the most in 16 years. At least one Challenger had reason to celebrate, though. Mike Siemers got his first hit in the NLA in the second inning.

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