Savigny vs Montpellier

The game swung in the middle innings when Savigny's starter settled after an early wobble and set down seven consecutive Montpellier hitters. That stretch allowed the Lions' offence to build a lead that proved insurmountable.

Savigny reliever Orozco — a workhorse with 19 regular-season appearances — entered in a high-leverage spot and struck out the side, preserving the Lions' advantage and deflating Montpellier's momentum.

Pena (Savigny) — The Lions' ace has been Division 1's most dominant pitcher all season (9-2, 1.35 ERA, 108 K in 86.1 IP). He went deep into this contest, allowing Montpellier few clean looks and giving his offence time to build a lead.

Acuna (Savigny) — The import led the offensive charge with multiple hits and RBIs, continuing a season in which he has been the Lions' most consistent run producer.

Jesus Delgado (Montpellier) — The veteran right-hander kept the Barracudas within striking distance, battling through the middle innings before Savigny's bats broke through.

The 8-5 scoreline is in keeping with this fixture's history. Savigny and Montpellier have met 44 times since 2012, averaging 11.36 runs per game. Both teams have scored in 77% of those meetings (34 of 44), and 98% have gone over 2.5 total runs. This contest followed that pattern exactly: a high-scoring, back-and-forth affair.

The Lions finished the regular season with the league's best record despite committing 60 errors — tied for most in Division 1. Their formula has been simple: out-hit and out-pitch the opposition rather than relying on defence.

Montpellier's 17-10 record reflects a team that has been competitive against every opponent but struggled to sweep doubleheaders, a pattern that proved costly in the final standings.

Savigny finish first and advance to the best-of-five semi-finals as the top seed, facing fourth-placed La Rochelle Boucaniers. Rouen, in second place, draw Montpellier in the other semi-final. Both series begin on the weekend of 5–6 September 2026.

For Savigny, the semi-final represents a chance to reach the French Baseball Series for the first time since their regular-season dominance. For Montpellier, a daunting matchup awaits against a Rouen team that swept them 13-3 and 7-1 earlier in August.

Savigny proved once more why they finished top: when they needed a win, their best pitcher delivered and their offence produced. The defence remains a question mark heading into the playoffs, but the Lions have earned the right to be favourites. Montpellier's season is far from over — they have the pitching to win a short series — but Sunday's loss means they must take the harder road through Rouen.