by Chris Byrnes
On a beautiful Sunday afternoon in Lucerne with temperatures around 27 degrees, the Lucerne Eagles defeated the first place Zurich Barracudas 6-2 to improve to 9-4 on the season.
The Eagles jumped out in front early when Raphael Strub doubled off Andi Rüesch and Alex Tifa Cruz followed with a deep home run to left field to make it a 2-0 ball game. Patrick Maier added a solo jack in the fifth to make the score 3-0 and Rudi Vargas went yard in the 5th inning to put the score at 4-0. The Eagles would add two more runs in the 6th inning to go ahead 6-0.
Eagle starter Andrea Girasole was spectacular giving up only three hits in the first six innings. The Barracudas reached Girasole for two runs in the 8th inning and were threatening to score more runs with the bases loaded but Girasole was able to get Josh Crouse to strike out ending the inning. Girasole polished off the Barracudas in the 9th inning and earned his second win of the season. Andi Rüesch took his first loss of the season. Roger Savoldelli pitched 3 scoreless innings in relief for the Barracudas.