Challengers 15, Eagles 5

The Challengers downed the Eagles from Reussbühl 15-5 in the first game of Sunday's doubleheader. Starter Thomas Landis pitched six strong innings en rout to his fifth win of thew season.

Bryan Shemley>

Bryan Shemley had two hits in five at-bats to take over the lead in batting average at .383

The Challengers used a quick start to seal the victory after just two innings as they put together six runs in both the first two innings. Both times, the Challengers sent ten batters to the plate who jumped on starter Steiner (1-4) and chased him after just two innings of work.

Iqbal Khan, who missed the last four games and appeared in only his fifth game of the season, hit a double to straight center and scored on Fukamachi's single two batters later.

Bryan Shemley hit his second consecutive single to start the second inning and all of the next four batters reached base before Khan was called out on strikes for the first out of the inning, but the score was already 11-0 in the Challengers' favor.

Thomas Landis (5-4) allowed just one run through the first 3 1-3 innings before third baseman Giraudo raced home with the second run for the Eagles after shortstop Chris Palatinus missed a ground ball hit by Stefan Bhend. Landis finished with 10 strikeouts, giving up four earned runs, four hits and six walks.

The Eagles were able to score one run in both the fifth and sixth inning on another infield error and on Benitez' first homer of the season, but the Challengers erased all of those runs with a three-run sixth.

Relief pitcher Giraudo issued a bases-loaded walk to Roger Brunner, Khan hit an RBI-fielder's choice and Nicki Lehmann profited from another Eagles error that brought home the last run for the Challengers.