The Vienna Metrostars opened their season in the Softball Bundesliga on Thursday with a split against the Witches Linz. While the Viennese were still able to record a clear 8:1 win after five innings in the first game, the guests promptly took revenge in the second game.
In their season debut, the Metrostars scored consistently from the start and were already 7-0 ahead in the fourth inning. A strong offensive performance, strong pitching by Carla Langthaler and aggressive base running led to this interim result. The highlight was a home run by Larissa Donau in the third inning. A solid defense also allowed the Witches only one run in the fifth inning. The Metrostars won 8-1 in the fifth inning after Mercy Rule.
The second encounter began similarly, with the Metrostars leading 6-2 by the fourth inning. Then an “offensive firework” began with the Witches, some nice hits but also faulty plays in defense with the Viennese. Overall, the Upper Austrians – led by the strong pitcher Martina Lackner-Keil – caught up five runs and took the lead for the first time that day. But the hostesses equalized to 7:7.
It went into the extra inning. Here the Metrostars prevented the early decision with a strong double play in which 2 players of the Linz women were identified on home. The winners were not determined until the second overtime. The Witches managed a run that the Metrostars couldn’t answer. Thus, the women from Linz prevailed after more than 3 hours with 8:7.
