Stade Toulouse – Rouen Huskies 3-4; 8-5
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The reigning French champion ROUEN HUSKIES travelled to TOULOUSE on opening day. Both won a game and settled for a split. The HUSKIES overcame a 0-3 deficit to defeat Stade by a score of 4-3 in part one of the doubleheader.
TOULOUSE loaded the bases in the second and Sebastian Morgavi drove in two with a base hit to left field for a 2-0 lead. They added a run a frame later on a RBI-groundout by Maxim Gigout. The HUSKIES fought back in the fifth, when David Gauthier hit a two-run-triple to close the gap to a run. They made the turnaround perfect in the seventh. Randy Perez tied it 3-3 with a RBI-single and scored the go-ahead run on a single by Romain David.
ROUEN’s starter Keino Perez allowed three runs (1 ER) on two hits and a walk in five innings, striking out four. Relief pitcher Giovanni Ouin received the win, after going four innings. TOULOUSE had Quentin Pourcel (L 0-1) on the mound. He was charged with five hits, four runs and three base on balls in seven innings. Both clubs combined for six errors in the opening match of the season.
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The defense of ROUEN continued their miserable play in the second game of the day. Another four errors led to four unearned runs of TOULOUSE.
They started the second like the first match and scored two runs for an early lead. But the HUSKIES came right back and rallied for three runs in the second and added another in the fifth. However this time STADE had an answer. They brought four runs on the board in the bottom half of the fifth frame and made it 8-5 in the seventh.
Brieux Mallet and Sebastian Morgavi had the big hits for TOULOUSE, with a two-run-double and a two-run single. Frederic Hanvi also had a RBI. Romain David hit a RBI-double for ROUEN. Boris Marche, Pierre Le Guillou and Laurent Aoutin also had RBIs.
Euri Garcia Martinez (W 1-0) started and allowed eleven hits, five runs (4 ER) and four walks for the win. Jamel Boutagra closed out the game with a two-inning-save. Alexandre Souchon (L 0-1) got the start for the HUSKIES. He gave up seven hits, six runs (2 ER) and a base on balls in 4 1/3 innings.
La Guerche Hawks – Templiers Senart 0-13; 3-2
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Last year’s runner up TEMPLIERS SENART had a so-so start into the new season. The split at the LA GUERCHE HAWKS. The first game of the doubleheader was an easy and lopsided 13-0 shutout for the TEMPLIERS. Ernesto Martinez opened the pouring with a three-run-shot in the first frame. Samuel Meurant (W 1-0) had no problems, cruising to his first victory, giving up just four hits in seven innings. Ludovic Clairet (L 0-1) and Ely Surais tried to stop the SENART offense on the mound, but failed.
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As lopsided the first part of the doubleheader was, the second was a thriller. The HAWKS deleted the memories of the opener fast and scored two fast runs for a 2-0 lead after the fourth. The TEMPLIERS tied the game, but failed to convert their other opportunities to turn the score into their favor. LA GUERCHE profited and scores the game-winner on a bases loaded walk by Mathieu Brau in the bottom of the ninth.
Anthony Piquet started for the home team. Laurent Perriguez, who received the win, relieved him. Matthieu Brelle was the starter for SENART.
Arvernes Clermont-Ferrand – Montpellier Barracudas 8-2; 11-2
The promoted club CLERMONT-FERRAND celebrated a successful debut on the Elite level in France. They defeated last year’s semi-finalist MONTEPLLIER twice. And these were clear victories. Olivier Charlionennet (W 1-0) was solid in game one on Saturday evening. He allowed two runs (1 ER) on five hits in six innings, striking out seven. Doug Grant came in and closed out the game for the save. He dominated with seven strikeouts in the last three periods. Antoine Gosselin had three hits in four at-bats.
The second part of the doubleheader saw the debut of the other new Canadian. Brett Murray gave up just one hit in five innings, while striking out eight. The offense scored eleven runs on nine hits and five errors by the BARRACUDAS. They managed just five hits in the game.
Paris University Club – Savigny Lions 3-5; 3-4 (10)
The two wins for SAVIGNY in PARIS were expected. But that PUC stayed so long in both games was a surprise. The LIONS even needed an extra-inning in the second to secure the victory.