The NLB-Team bounced back from two tough losses against the Jona Bandits two weeks ago, as the Challengers celebrated a 9-8 victory against Zürich Barracudas. The two local rivals battled for 3 hours and 47 minutes on Tuesday night, before reliever Oliver Christen selt the deal with a strikeout with the tying run on third.

 

The C's took the lead in the third inning, as they scored three runs for a 3-2 lead, which they didn't give away till the end. Dean Scherbaum drove in Gregory Zingg with a RBI-double to extend the lead to two runs and after the Barracudas cut the deficit to one run again, Carlos Nepomuceno had a triple and scored in the fifth, before delivering a two-run single in the sixth to make it 8-4. The Barracudas fought strong and answered with two runs of their own, while the C's scored an insurance run in the seventh, as Yusuke Azuma drove in Francesco Falcone. The Barracudas managed to get another run in the bottom of the ninth, but Christen ended the threat for a much needed Challengers victory.

 

Dean Scherbaum was credited with the win, as he gave up six runs in 5.1 innings of work, while Oliver Christen tossed 3.2 innings for the save.

 

The two teams will face each other again on Tuesday, August 6 for another night game at the Heerenschürli ballpark.