NLA Game 5, May 10, 97

FRO
5
 1234567RHE
Frogs 1013000502
Challengers 500002x7112
W: Räber L: SKlee
CHA
7

Challengers 7, Frogs 5

It was a struggle all the way, as the Challengers had a hard-fought victory against the Frogs.

The Challengers pitching staff fell apart as starter Thomas Landis and reliever Benny Räber (2-1) no-hit the Frogs, but gave up 5 runs on 13 bases-on-balls, 7 wild pitches, 3 passed balls, 5 hit-by-pitches and 2 balks.

<aBeat Eichenberger>
Rookie Bea Eichenberger got his first NLA-hit in his third at-bat.
The Frogs opened the score by pushing Alex Traina, who was hit by a pitch by Landis, across the diamond on a wild pitch, a passed ball and a groundout. The Challengers didn't wait long and scored five unanswered runs against Frogs starter Wiedmer on four singles and one base-on-balls. Wiedmer then was relieved by Steve Klee, who held the Challengers scoreless over the next four innings, while his offense came back and tied the score in the top of the fourth.

The game remained tied into the bottom of the sixth, when Iqbal Khan, just back from the disabled list, hit a single to right field with two outs that scored Landis and Bryan Shemley to put the Challengers up 7-5.

The Frogs were able to load the bases in the top of the seventh. This came again on bad pitching, as Räber gave up two walks and a hit-by-pitch. But he was able to retire Traina on a fly ball to center field for the third and final out of the game.

Khan finished the game with two hits and four RBI's in three at-bats and rookie Beat Eichenberger also collected a hit and an RBI.

The Frogs stranded nine runners in scoring position and weren't able to capitalize even more on the lousy Challenger pitchers.