Challengers rally in final inning for big 12-6 win

The Challengers waited a long time to let their bats explode, but when they did, the damage done to the Embrach Rainbows was more than enough.

	Nick Lehmann had a game-high three hits and also collected two RBI's.

The Challengers were trailing 5-4 entering the top of the seventh and final inning, but the first four batters reached base against reliever Ishak, and they ended up sending 12 batters to the plate who scored eight times for the final score of 12-6.

Southpaw Peter Schittenhelm of the Rainbows managed to keep the Challengers in check, and allowed only two runs - one of them unearned - on five hits and no base-on-balls in the first four innings.

He left with a 4-2 lead, and the only earned run he gave up came off Jose Valdez' solo homer - his fifth of the season - to lead off the fourth inning.

Schittenhelm was relieved by Ishak who was greeted by Anubis Benitez' double, and Nick Lehmann's RBI-single to drive him in. After retiring Thomas Landis on a weak grounder, Valdez lined a single to center that scored Lehmann from second base and tied the score at 4-4.

Starter Landis was in full command on the hill, and allowed just four runs - one of them unearned - on four singles and a double through the first five innings.

	Anubis Benitez hit two doubles, and now has a team-leading 16 two-baggers on the season.

But the Rainbows managed to score one more time off Landis in the bottom of the sixth frame on a fielding error by Benitez that enabled Francisco-Robles to score from third base for a 5-4 lead before the start of the last inning.

The Challengers were aware of the situation they maneuvred themselves into, and did all the things they needed to escape it.

Lehmann and Landis led off the inning with back-to-back singles just out of the reach of third baseman Stuber, and Valdez plated both runners with just his sixth homer of the season for a 7-5 lead.

After Chris Palatinus followed with a texas-league single, Chris Campassi relieved Ishak to get the final three outs.

He managed to induce Manny Marchant to ground out to the shortstop, but thanks to a hit-and-run play signaled by coach Andy Fleischacker, Palatinus was safe at second.

Tobias Siegrist followed with an RBI-double, and two batters later, Armin Blickenstorfer">Armin Blickenstorfer connected for his third homer of the season for the sixth run of the inning.

Two more runs scored on Lehmann's RBI-single and an error by shortstop Francisco-Robles.

Landis (3-1) finished the game on the mound, giving up one more run on Campassi's solo shot to lead of the inning.

In the end, Landis gave up six runs - two of them unearned - on seven hits and three walks while striking out a season-high seven batters in his second complete game of the season.

Game notes: Benitez' double in the seventh inning was his 50th for the Challengers. ...Valdez' homer in the seventh inning was his 150th hit for the Challengers.