Challengers edge Lions 32-28 in opener

A long and cruel game between the Zurich Challengers and Zurich Lions opened the 2007 season.

The two NLB-teams battled for over 4 1/2 hours, with the Challengers coming out as 32-28 winners.

The Lions were leading all game, at one point even with a 12-run differential.

But the Challengers managed to rally from deficits of 5-0, 8-2, 13-4, 18-6, 25-17 and 28-26 in the eighth innning.

Lion pitchers Köstinger and Graham gave up a combined 26 walks, forcing in 11 runs alone on bases-loaded walks.

With this gifts, the Challengers overcame a disastrous defensive showing with 11 errors in the field.

Veteran Nick Lehmann ended up with the win, although allowing 13 runs - three of them unearned - on nine hits and nine walks, while also striking out a career-high eight batters.

Lehmann also led the offensive output by going 5-for-6 at the plate, scoring four runs and driving in three.

Game notes
Samuel Hauser got his first career hit - a two-out two-run double in the second inning - after going 0-for-16 with 15 strikeouts in his previous two seasons. ...Yves Huber set a new career-high in the NLB by scoring five times.