Sedin shuts down Barracudas in 8-0 win

The Challengers evened their record at .500 for the first time since May 16 with an 8-0 win over the Zurich Barracudas.

With that win, the two teams split their season series at 2 each, with the Challengers holding a 46-45 edge since 1994.

Robert Sedin pitched eight fine innings for the win, allowing only two hits and four walks, while also striking out six.

He faced only 30 batters in eight innings, six above the minimum of 24. Only two baserunners reached as far as third base: Harry Wischnewski in the fourth and Elliot Berger in the eighth inning.

Sedin also sparked his offense, going 3-for-4 with three RBIs, two stolen bases and two runs scored. Clayton Carson had two singles in four trips to the plate, two stolen bases and a run scored, and newly acquired Nelson Santana delivered a pinch-hit single and scored a game-high two runs.

The Challengers jumped ahead in the bottom of the first inning as they put up a three spot against Chris Michals. Tobias Siegrist delivered an RBI-single to left, and Francisco Colindres plated two runners with a single to center with two outs.

After that, Michals and Sedin cruised through the second, third and fourth innings, keeping the score at 3-0 after four frames.

In the bottom of the fifth, with a runner at first, Saentis Zeller laid down a bunt right back to Michals who tried to field the ball. He slipped and fell to the ground, apparently injuring himself on the play.

He was replaced by Manuel Lopez who failed to retire any of the first three batters he faced, letting both inherited runners plus Sedin score to extend the Challengers' lead to 6-0.

In the next inning, Lopez loaded the bases with three walks, and Sedin made him pay with a two-run single up the middle off reliever Colin Bruce for an 8-0 lead.

Bruce got Clayton to line into an inning-ending double play to escape the jam.

The Barracudas threatened one more time in the eighth inning and managed to put runners at second and third with two outs, but Wischnewski grounded out to first to end the inning.
Siegrist was summoned to pitch the ninth inning, and he had to concede the game's only extra-base hit, a double by Shane Uhle with two outs. But Siegrist got Strahil Georgiev to strike out swinging to end the game.

Game notes
Sedin retired Andi Rüesch in the sixth inning on a line drive to right to complete 250 innings in the NLA. ...The Challengers have scored three runs in the first inning in each of their last three games against the Barracudas and the Bern Cardinals. …The game was played in front of a capacity crowd of 250 spectators, part of the Challengers' efforts to raise awareness for organ donation.