VIENNA, VA—After all of the offensive fireworks on display for the Senators on opening night, runs and hits were tough to come by against Fauquier on Sunday. The Gators defeated the Senators 2-1 in 11 innings at Waters Field.
The Senators could only muster five hits and one run against a tough Gator pitching staff after exploding for nine hits and seven runs against Herndon on Saturday night. Gator pitchers Bubba Blalock, Frankie Duran, and Trey Miller handcuffed the Senator hitters all day with Frankie Duran allowing the only run in the bottom of the eight inning.
The Gators struck first in the top of the seventh inning when Gator second basemen Matt Steele singled in catcher Chris Rebzak, who had been hit by a pitch to start the inning and then advanced to third on an error by Senator pitcher Colby Green.
The Senators answered with a run of their own in the bottom of the eighth inning. Tony Esquith walked to begin the inning and then advanced to second on a bunt single by Senator left fielder Reggie Dixon. Esquith then scored when Matt Lesyk hit into a would-be double play, but Gator second baseman Matt Steele overthrew the first baseman, allowing Esquith to score and Dixon to move to third base.
The crushing blow came in the top of the eleventh inning, when Gator third baseman Ricky Owens, who led off the inning, sent a pitch delivered by new Senator pitcher Joe Hughes over the righ field wall. The ball looked like it nipped the top of the fence as it left the ballpark. Hughes got out of the inning without any further damage, but the Senators were not able to muster any runs in the bottom of the eleventh.
Andrew Fritz, Kevin Hanson, and Mike Genovese also contributed hits for the Senators while starting pitcher Greg Holland had a masterful first outing, allowing only two hits and striking out seven Gators. Trey Miller picked up the win for the Gators while Hughes was credited with the loss for the Senators.
The Senators and Gators will be in action again on Tuesday night at 7 pm in Fauquier.