Rouen Huskies – Savigny Lions 12-4, 14-11
SAV 010 010 020 4 7 3 ROU 124 021 02X 12 14 2 SAV 301 210 310 11 13 1 ROU 025 101 14X 14 20 4
With Kenji Hagiwara back in the lineup of ROUEN after finishing the college season, their offense is heating up. They pounded out 34 hits and 26 runs, sweeping the doubleheader versus SAVIGNY.
The outcome of game one was clear after just three periods with the HUSKIES already leading 7-1 on their way to a 12-4 victory. Leadoff hitter Luc Piquet had three hits in six at bats. Dany Scalabrini got two valid ones. Besides Olivier Israel, each batter of the home squad had at least a hit. Jerome Rousseau hit a home run for SAVIGNY. Keino Perez started and allowed five hits, two runs (1 ER) and one walk in seven innings. Carlos Jiminian was chased from the game after just 2 1/3 innings, giving up seven runs (3 ER) on five hits and three base on balls.
The second match was much more thrilling. In fact, it was one, if not the most spectacular game of the season. The LIONS started off strong, scoring three runs in the top of the first. However ROUEN came back and took a 7-4 lead after a five-run third. The back and forth went on with SAVIGNY rallying to take an 11-10 advantage after the top of the eighth. But the HUSKIES had one answer left. They scored four runs in the bottom of the frame to win 14-11.
Jerome Rousseau and Sebastien Boyer hit homeruns for the guests. Florian Peyrichou was four-for-six. David Gauthier, Randy Perez and Romain David hit the ball out of the park for ROUEN. Kenji Hagiwara had four hits, Perez, Gauthier and Boris Marche each three.
Obviously the game was not well-pitched. Giovanni Ouin (ROU) started and allowed six hits, six runs (5 ER) and two walks in three-plus innings. Guillaume Coste (SAV) gave up seven runs (6 ER) on seven hits in his 2 1/3 innings start for the LIONS. Jason Kosow received the win, Pierrick Lemestre the loss.
Templiers Senart – Montpellier Barracudas 5-4 (11), 6-3
The TEMPLIERS extended their winning streak with two victories against the BARRACUDAS. Game one was decided through a squeeze bunt by Lahence Benhamida with the bases loaded in the eleventh with Gaspard Fessy scoring the winning run. MONTPELLIER had a chance to win the thriller in the tenth, when they put a runner on third, but failed to score. Samuel Meurant pitched the first nine innings for SENART with Mathieu Brelle-Andrade receiving the win for two innings of relief. BARRACUDAS starter Edouard Masse was on the mound for the first seven innings. Nathan French took the loss.
After out-hitting the TEMPLIERS 14-13 in the first part of the doubleheader, they even had a 12-6 advantage in the second. Nonetheless, SENART was again victorious, this time by a score of 6-3. Evan Blesoff received the win with a complete game. MONTPELLIER starter Thomas Meley had to leave the mound in the second period after injuring his ankle. Laurent Andrades relieved him and finished the match.
Stade Toulouse – Arvernes Clermont-Ferrand 5-7, 18-9
With MONTPELLIER losing twice in SENART, TOULOUSE and CLERMONT-FERRAND closed the gap in the win column of the Elite League standings with a split in their doubleheader. The ARVERNES won game one 7-5 with STADE pounding them 18-9 in the second. TOULOUSE is now tied with the BARRACUDAS in fourth place. CLERMONT-FERRAND follows with a game behind, as they have played two more matches.
La Guerche Hawks – Paris University Club 3-1, 2-4
LA GUERCHE missed the chance to move past the mentioned clubs from fourth to sixth, as they had to settle for a split at home against last-ranked PARIS. The HAWKS scored took a 3-0 lead with two runs in the seventh on their way to a 3-1 victory in game one. Anthony Piquet received the win. PUC put their lone run on the board in the ninth.
With a chance to take get right in the middle of the race for the playoffs, LA GUERCHE fell behind early with PARIS scoring each two runs in the first and the fourth to take home their second win of the season. The HAWKS rallied for two runs in the sixth, but it was too little, too late. With Ludovic Clairet and Gaetan Lepoupon not available, LA GUERCHE had turned to Pascal Furet on the mound, who lost his start.
{mrb-standing:france-2008}