VIENNA, VA-- The Senators showed the resilience of a champion in the first game of a doubleheader with the Reston Hawks on Saturday.  They quickly fell behind 4-0 in the first inning with a couple of uncharacteristic errors that gave the Hawks some confidence.  The Senators were able to chip away at the lead and eventually win 8-6 to collect their fourth straight win.

            Vienna closed the gap to 4-1 in the first inning when Guillermo Martinez hit a homerun over the left field wall.  It was Martinez’s third homerun of the season.

            The Senators crept even closer in the second inning.   Donald Brown doubled to start the inning.  Tim Guidry grounded out to advance Brown to third base.  Brown then scored on a Leighton Autrey single to make the score 4-2 in favor of the Hawks.  Autrey advanced to third on a Scott Scudder single and eventually scored when Martinez singled him in to make the score 4-3 at the end of the second inning. 

            The Senators took control of the game in the sixth inning.  Justin Bunkis walked to start the inning.  Donald Brown then singled, advancing Bunkis to third.  Guidry drove in Bunkis and advanced Brown to second when he grounded out to the shortstop.  Bunkis’ run made tied the game.  Autrey followed with a single and advanced to second on the throw home that was too late to get Brown.  Brown’s run made the score 5-4 in favor of the Senators.  Scott Scudder drove in Autrey with a double down the left field line to make the score 6-4.  Michael Rivera ended the scoring for the Senators when he singled in Scudder to make the score 7-4. 

            The Senators increased their lead to 8-4 in the eighth inning when Rivera drove in Wes Schirtzinger with a sacrifice fly. 

            The Hawks were able to plate two runs in the ninth, but it was not enough as Ricky Fairchild shut the door on them.  Caleb Barton picked up the victory for the Senators, and Fairchild picked up his second consecutive save.  Autrey finished with three hits and two RBIs for the Senators.

            Game two of the doubleheader was not as satisfying for the Senators.  They had opportunities to score runs, but were not able to utilize any of them in a 2-1 loss to the Hawks.  The game was only seven innings long due to the doubleheader.

            The lone Senator run came in the fourth inning when Tim Guidry grounded out to second base to drive in Michael Rivera from third. 

            The game was tied until the Hawks plated a run in the bottom of the sixth inning when TJ Guinan singled in Scott Hoar to take the lead for good.

            The Senators looked like they were going to mount a rally in the top of the seventh inning, but were on the losing side of two controversial calls by the first base umpire.  Reggie Dixon looked like he beat a throw from shortstop before he was tagged by the first baseman, but the umpire called him out.  Then, Wes Schirtzinger looked like he was safe by two steps on a bunt down the third base line, but he was also called out.  Donald Brown flew out to center field to end the game.

              The loss drops the Senators to 2-1 in the second half and 18-4 overall.  Hunter Hall pitched well, but was credited with the loss.  The Senators return to action tomorrow as they take on the Fairfax Nationals at Westfield High School.  Enjoy your holiday by coming out and cheering on the Senators.  The game is scheduled to start at 11 a.m.