Challengers 12, Flyers 7

As in Game 1, the Challengers quickly went up in the first three innings and never looked back after that to beat the Therwil Flyers 12-7 in Game 2 of Saturday's doubleheader.

Benny Räber>

Benny Räber pitched five innings for his fourth win of the season.

Starter Benny Räber (4-1) allowed just a single run in five innings. It came on Karim Traore's solo homer with two outs in the top of the second inning.

The only other hit Räber allowed was Roger Hunziker's two-out single in the fourth inning, and Hunziker was also the only runner who reached second base off Räber on a steal.

Räber was also helped by great defensive plays, most notably by Andreas Mathis' fine catch in right field and the ensuing throw to first base to double Koller off first base.

Oli Christen>

Reliever Oli Christen had a rough outing as he faced only three batters and gave up three runs.

With the Challengers leading 12-1 after five innings, rookie Oli Christen relieved Räber to start the sixth inning. But he gave up a walk, a single and then Roy Allenspach's three-run homer, and was pulled for reliever Gary Kochlefl who already pitched the last inning in Game 1.

Kochlefl promptly retired the first two batters but then gave up a single to Karim Traore, hit Fernando Abril with a pitch and his defense committed three consecutive errors that allowed three unearned runs to score. He got Djibril Traore to ground into an inning-ending fielder's choice, but the Flyers cut the Challengers' lead to 12-7.

The Flyers then again loaded the bases in the top of the seventh, and had the tying run on deck with two outs. But Abril, a .289 hitter, grounded out to second for the final out of the game.

Shortstop Saentis Zeller was a perfect 3-for-3 with a homer and two walks to add to his five walks in five appearances in Game 1.

The Flyers' offense managed to score in only two innings.

Kochlefl added his first homer in almost a year, a three-run shot in the bottom of the third.

Räber lowered his ERA to a team-leading 4.18.

Urs Blickenstorfer and Oli Christen gave their debuts in the NLA-team and both of them committed fielding errors in the outfield that fortunately led two no runs.

The two wins at the Heerenschürli marked the first time ever that the Challengers managed to win two games at home against their long-time rivals Flyers.

The Challengers also built up a 2.5-game lead over the Flyers and a 2-game lead over the Barracudas with just four games remaining in the regular season.