Challengers salvage split with 7-3 come-from-behind victory

The Challengers managed to put away their woeful play displayed in Game 1 of Saturday's doubleheader to beat the Embrach Mustangs 7-3.

Rookie southpaw Patrick Maier trailed early, but found his groove, allowing three runs on four hits and nine walks, while also striking out five in a complete-game effort.

Yonimiler Martinez led the Challengers' offense with a 2-for-3 performance, picking up four RBI's and a stolen base.

His team's total of four hits were enough to outlast the Mustangs whose running game was completely shut down by Maier and catcher Tobias Siegrist, conceding only a single stolen base.

Both teams combined for a total of three extra-base hits, two by Josh Crouse of the Mustangs.

His team built up an early 3-0 lead through three innings on a bases-loaded walk, a sacrifice bunt and Chris Byrnes RBI-single in the third.

The Challengers got two runs back in the fourth on Yonimiler Martinez' RBI-single and a successful 1-3 double steal by Carlos Peña and Siegrist.

In the fifth inning, a fielding error by Crouse allowed two runs to score, and Yonimiler Martinez' sac fly gave the Challengers a 5-3 lead at the end of the frame.

Maier was in control until the end of the game, allowing only four more baserunners to reach as far as second base.

Game notes
Jesus Martinez popped out to first in the fifth inning in his 200th at-bat with the Challengers. ...The nine walks issued by Maier were the most since Thomas Landis walked 10 batters in a contest versus the Barracudas on June 1, 1996.