Von Burg, Sanders dominate Challengers in 7-2 win

The Challengers faced a determined Zurich Barracudas squad. One that wanted to take revenge for its dismissal from the Swiss Cup three weeks ago when the Challengers beat them 10-0.

Ueli Von Burg and his team were on top of their games this time, rolling over the Challengers with an easy 7-2 win.

Von Burg surrendered only three hits and four walks while also striking out four in six plus innings.

Closer James Sanders pitched the final three outs, striking out two of the four batters he faced to end the game.

The Challengers were running against a wall all day, although getting several scoring chances throughout the game. They stranded runners in scoring position in three of the seven innings, but couldn't cash in due to poor hitting.

The Cudas scored first on Frank Berchtold's sac fly to center field in the first inning.

The Challengers managed to knot the score in the top of the third on Saentis Zeller's RBI-single, but that was as close as the Challengers got all day.

The Barracudas answered with two runs as Blackmore smashed a two-run homer off Harry Bregy over the center field fences for a 3-1 lead.

They added one more in the bottom of the fifth before breaking loose in the next inning, scoring three times for a 6-1 lead.

Bregy was relieved by rookie Thomas Burger after having given up seven runs on seven hits and five walks while also striking out five, suffering his third loss of the season.

Burger retired Blackmore on a pop fly to second base, before walking Sanders on four pitches.

But he got out of the inning when Sanders got trapped between first and second on an attempted double steal, nevertheless enabling Stefan Suter to score a run.

The Challengers finally managed to add one more run onto their account, but it came on a balk call by head umpire Roger Savoldelli, scoring Thomas Landis from third base.

Game notes
Bregy is 1-3 in his last four starts after starting the season with two wins.