Challengers 9, Frogs 6y

The Challengers scored seven times off Frogs starter Claudio Heim in the first two innings to win the second contest in their best-of-three series determining 3rd place.

Giorgio Szentgyörgyi>

Giorgio Szentgyörgyi had one hit in three at-bats on Sunday in what might have been his last game of his 9-year career.

Heim (3-1) allowed two runs in the first inning on two hits, two walks and a sac fly and five more in the second as Roger Brunner slapped a single to left field with the bases loaded that left fielder Stefan Lüthy wasn't able to handle and he let the ball roll back all the way to the fence and Brunner raced around the bases with what could have been an inside-the-park homer, but the scorer charged Lüthy with an error.

Peter Rüfenacht relieved Heim after that and allowed one more run to score for a 8-1 Challengers lead.

The Frogs faced rookie Benny Räber who lasted 3.1 innings and managed just five runs - one unearned - off him on six hits and one base-on-balls. He was relieved by Thomas Landis and after that, the game became a pitching duel with both pitchers doing a fine job on the mound.

After the fourth inning, Landis (12-6) allowed one more hit and four walks, and Rüfenacht gave up four hits and one base-on-balls (an intentional walk to Landis) over the same span.

The two teams had a combined 16 baserunners (6 Challengers and 10 Frogs) over the last five innings that demonstrates the great job the two pitchers have done in the second half of the game.

The Challengers cruised on to a 9-6 victory and Landis collected his career-high 12th win of the season.

With that win, the Challengers are granted a participation in next year's European Cup.