Mustangs rally for 6-4 win

Trailing 4-3 in the seventh inning, Josh Crouse hit a two-run double off reliever Thomas Burger to give the Embrach Mustangs a 6-4 come-from-behind win in Game 1 of Saturday's doubleheader at the Heerenschürli.

The Mustangs' Roger Savoldelli went the distance and picked up his first win of the season, Crouse added another double and a single, while Eidrys Reyes led all Challengers with three singles and a double in five at-bats.

Andrea Girasole pitched six strong innings, but ended up with a no-decision as Burger blew the save in a hurry.

With one out in the top of the seventh, Harry Wischnewski and Tim Jones reached on back-to-back singles before Crouse plated them both with a sharp double down the left field line that went all the way to the outfield wall.

Crouse was thrown out at the plate after he advanced to third on the throw back and tried to score on a bobble by third baseman Tobias Siegrist. But a strong throw to the plate nailed Crouse by a step for the out.

Except of two throwing errors to first base, Girasole was comfortable on the mound, conceding three runs on five hits and two walks, while also striking out one.

The Challengers had at least two baserunners in each of the first four innings, and built up a 4-2 lead during that span.

Savoldelli conceded eight hits in those four frames, but managed to settle down afterwards, allowing just three more baserunners over the final five innings.

As for baserunning, there were no stolen bases by either team, witht the Challengers successfully pulling off a 1st&3rd run-scoring rundown play in the bottom of the fourth.

Harry Bregy came in to relieve Burger in the eighth inning after the first two batters reached on a single and a hit-by-pitch.

Bregy allowed one of the inherited runners to score, but kept his own season ERA to 0.00 by tossing two shutout innings.

Game 2 was called in the second inning after heavy rain came down and made any further play impossible.

Game notes
The last Challenger with at least four hits in a game was Sedin when he went 4-for-4 against the Wil Devils on July 28, 2012. ...Bryan Shemley struck out looking against Savoldelli in his 700th NLA at-bat in the sixth inning. ...Jesus Martinez remained hitless and has only two hits in 18 at-bats this season. His lifetime batting average against the Mustangs is .233, the worst against any opponent.