Recaps: Templiers Senart prevail against Bern Cardinals

Although not playing in the European Cup tournament next season, the TEMPLIERS SENART secured the second French A-Pool spot last weekend with two wins over the BERN CARDINALS from Switzerland. BERN had won the European Cup Qualifier for a second straight year and hoped to get their country into the 2010 A-Pool European Cup.

Templiers Senart – Bern Cardinals 9-5

CAR 000 001 301  5 12 6
SEN 110 023 02X  9  8 6

Box score

The TEMPLIERS started off the best-of-three series at the European Cup Playoff in Paris with a 9-5 win. They took a fast 2-0 lead after two frames and extended the gap to 7-1 through six. BERN was able to cut the deficit afterwards, but it was too little too late.

Andrew Smith led the SENART offense with three hits and three runs scored. Mathieu Brelle-Andrade went one-for-two with three walks, two runs scored and a two-run single. Raphael Hanzi picked up three RBI for the CARDINALS. John Baum scored twice.

Samuel Meurant (W 1-0) gave up nine hits, four runs (3 ER) and four bb in seven innings. Baum (L 0-1) took the loss, issuing six hits, seven runs (5 ER) and seven walks in 5 2/3 innings. He struck out seven.

Bern Cardinals – Templiers Senart 3-7

SEN 100 002 040  7 11 3
CAR 010 002 000  3  8 0

Box score

In game two of the series, SENART broke a 3-3 tie with a four-run rally in the eighth to win 7-3 against the CARDINALS. They started the inning by loading the bases with no outs and took the lead, when Ernesto Martinez crossed the plate on a wild pitch. A bases-loaded walk by Damien Teygeman, a RBI single by Andre Rocha and a sac fly by Andrew Smith extended the advantage to four runs.

Prior to the decisive frame BERN came back twice. Julien Brelle-Andrade had put SENART in front in the opening period with a solo homerun. But the CARDS evened the score in the second on a RBI single by Angelo Rodriguez. In the seventh the TEMPLIERS struck again taking a 3-1 lead on a RBI singles by Mathieu Brelle-Andrade and Samuel Meurant.

BERN answered right away tying the game on an error and a bases loaded walk by Tobias Imboden. They even had the chance to take the lead, but Marcos Paulino grounded into a fielder’s choice to second, leaving three men stranded.

Mathieu Brelle-Andrade (W 1-0) pitched eight innings, surrendering eight hits, three runs (1 ER) and five bb, while striking out eight. Andrea Girasole (L 0-1) allowed nine hits, seven runs and three walks in seven-plus innings.