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ALEXANDRIA , Va. June 21—A walk is just as good as a hit in terms of getting on base. For the Vienna Senators Thursday night, a walk not only kept the bases loaded, but also brought in the winning run in a 10-inning, 4-3 victory against the McLean Raiders.
With the victory, the Senators, defending Clark Griffith League champions, are tied for first place with the Fairfax Nationals in the League standings. The Senators are now 14-3 on the season.
Louisiana-Lafayette southpaw John Zorich picked up the win for the Senators in relief, as Vienna extended its wining streak to eight games. Nate Newman, who got the start for the Senators, pitched six innings and struck out six batters.
Ian Lenda, a righty from Christopher Newport, got the start for the Raiders, and held the Senators hitless until the sixth inning. In six innings of work, Lenda struck out nine batters.
The game was scoreless until the third inning, when McLean chalked up the first run. Designated hitter Chris Cuppia started off the inning with a single, and shortstop Robbie Shields followed that up with a single of his own. Kevin Watkins then grounded into a 4-6-3 double play, but Cuppia advanced to third on the play. Cuppia scored with the next play, as Eric Mruczek struck out swinging, but went to first on a wild pitch.
The Raiders were up 1-0 until the sixth inning when the Senators piled on three runs. With two out and shortstop Steven Gauthe on first, third baseman Nick Wheeler hit an RBI double. Gauthe scored from first base to tie the game. First baseman Sam Honeck then knocked a 2-run home run to right field to give the Senators a three-run cushion.
Although rain poured down in the bottom of the sixth, play continued. The score stayed 3-1 until the bottom of the seventh. John Zorich came on to relieve Nate Newman, and gave up two singles. Later, as Shields flied out to centerfield, Alex Swenson scored. Watkins then walked to put runners on the corners with two out. Then Mruczek hit an RBI single to score Connor Mullee and tie the game at three.
The Raiders and Senators were locked through the eighth and ninth innings. At the top of the tenth, the Senators made their charge for victory. Michigan product Chris Berset reached on an error, and Ryan Eden singled. Gauthe then walked to load the bases with no out. The Raiders then struck out Anthony Scelfo. But Wheeler was walked to allow Berset to cross the plate, so the Raiders walked in the winning run. The Raiders bore down and got three outs with the bases loaded to stop the Vienna threat.
Zorich faced three batters in the bottom of the tenth and got one out before giving up the ball to Mason Griffin, last season's League Most Outstanding Pitcher. With Watkins on first and Ryan Metzroth on second and one out, Griffin struck out Kelly Muir. Then McLean third baseman Drew Lydon hit the ball to Gauthe at shortstop, who flipped the ball to Bryce Mendonca, the second baseman, to get Metzroth tagged out at second.
The Senators are now 2-1 against the Raiders this season. Vienna looks forward to more competition in the next week.
###
more information, go to www.viennasenators.com or contact the public relations intern, Kristin Pratt, at (703) 401-6416 or pratt.kristin@gmail.com.