by Chris Byrnes
The Zurich Barracudas beat the Luzern Eagles 11-5 to complete the sweep and advance to the final round of the Swiss NLA playoffs. All three games won by the Barracudas were very close and exciting games for the fans. The Barracudas offense was relentless and kept putting pressure on the Eagles all series.
| 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | |
| Luzern Eagles | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Zurich Barracudas | 0 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 1 | 3 | 0 | 4 | x |
Game Summary
The game was scoreless through the first two innings but in the 3rd inning the Barracudas went to work reaching Andrea Girasole for three runs. Lead off batter Marc Schnider hit a ground ball to third base but the throw to 1st base was wide and Schnider raced his way to third base. Girasole then walked Harry Wischnewski and the leagues leading base stealer continued his assault on Swiss base stealing records by swiping second. The next batter Chris Michals hit a hard smash to shortstop Sami Paulino who made a brilliant play and threw out Schnider trying to advance to home. Girasole then walked Bert Marsnik to load the bases. That brought up the Barracudas bus driver Josh Crouse. Girasole had been pitching around Crouse all series long and who can blame him as Crouse has been hitting over .440 his last eight games. Crouse did not disappoint the hometown fans by rocketing a line drive down the 3rd base line to score two runs. Strahil Georgiev hit a slow roller and beat out the throw to 1st base to load the bases again. Hasson Rogers patiently made Girasole work the count to 3-2 and then walked on a low fastball to score the third Barracuda run.
5th Inning
The Eagles inched back in the game by scoring when Barracudas pitcher Andi Rüesch walked leadoff batter Raphael Strub and then mishandled the bunt from Henry Ramirez Delgado. With runner on 1st & 2nd base and no outs Patrick Maier laid down a sac bunt to advance the runners. Junior de La Rosario singled to right field to score Strub but a nice one hop throw to home by Barracudas outfield Strahil Georgiev nailed Delgado at the plate.
The Barracudas answered back in the bottom of the 5th scoring another run when Hasson Rogers singled to score Nderim Coma.
6th Inning
The Eagles came fighting back against Rüesch in the 6th inning to score four runs and tie the ballgame. Alex Tifa Cruz hit a ball down the third base line and Chris
Michals throw to 1st base was not in time and wide and Cruz advanced to second base. Rudi Vargas grounded out moving Cruz to3rd base and Tom Enz drove Cruz home with an infield single to make it 4-2 game. Rüesch walked the next batter Strub and then gave up a single to Edwin Martinez to load the bases two outs. Barracudas coach Byrnes made a trip to the mound and called on his bullpen Roger Savoldelli to face the left handed Patrick Maier. Maier fought off numerous pitches and was able to put the ball into left field to score two runs and tie the game at four.
The Barracudas would answer right back versus Girasole by scoring three to take a 7-4 lead in the 6th inning. Chris Michals started the rally off with a base hit. Girasole then picked Michals off 1st base however, the Eagles could not execute the run down and Michals made it safely to second base. Bert Marsnik made the Eagles pay for that mistake by smashing a line drive to score Michals. Josh Crouse followed with a double and Nderim Coma hit a deep fly to center field to score Marsnik. Strahil Georgiev continued the assault on Girasole by adding a line drive single to score Crouse.
7th Inning
With a 7-4 lead going into the 7th inning the Eagles fought back and scored one more run off Savoldelli when Paulino singled, stole second base and moved to third base on a passed ball and then scored on an infield out by Alex Tifa Cruz.
8TH Inning
The Eagles were again threatening to tie the game in the 8th inning when they loaded the bases on Savoldelli but the old master engineered an inning ending double play with Crouse and Rogers executing perfectly to shut down the last hope of the Eagles.
The Barracudas would go on to score four more runs in the 8th inning to put this game on ice. Roger Savoldelli picked up his second win in the series in relief.
The Barracudas will now await the outcome from the Therwil Flyers and Zurich Challengers series next week. The Flyers hold a 2-1 game lead going into next week but both of these teams have great pitching so anything is possible