Brewster, Mass. – Fresh off a stretch as a member of the USA Collegiate National team, Stetson left-hander Mitchell Senger was up to his old tricks on Sunday for the Orleans Firebirds of the Cape Cod Collegiate Baseball League.
 
Senger, who threw a no-hitter in his second start of the spring for the Hatters back in February, relived that outing on Sunday against the Brewster Whitecaps, combining with Aaron Ochsenbein on a no-hitter in a 3-2 victory. It was Senger's second start for the Firebirds since the end of his run with Team USA.
 
The junior-to-be worked seven perfect innings on Sunday before hitting the first batter in the eighth inning. He walked the next hitter, and both runners worked their way around the bases, scoring on a wild pitch and a ground out. He was able to get out of the inning with the lead before turning the ball over to Ochsenbein, who earned the save, but not without drama.
 
"I'm happy we won, but I'm upset that I gave up two runs," Senger said. "I didn't feel like my stuff was working at all. I got behind just about every hitter I faced and then I would throw a fastball close to the zone, they'd hit it and my defense did the rest."
 
After retiring the first two hitters in the ninth, Ochsenbein allowed a two-out walk to bring Michigan's Jesse Franklin to the plate as the potential winning run. Ochsenbein answered the call, getting Franklin on a called third strike to cap the combined no-hitter.
 
Senger finished the outing with eight strikeouts. Through his first two outings for the Firebirds the Boca Raton native is 2-0 with a 2.76 ERA. He has allowed just three hits in 13 innings of work with 12 strikeouts.
 
During his stretch with Team USA, Senger pitched in two games, both in relief, working 3.1 shutout innings with three strikeouts.
 
Senger's next outing for the Firebirds will likely be on Saturday, July 21, against a Harwich club that includes Stetson teammate Austin Wood.  
 
About Stetson University Athletics: Stetson University's Athletics Program has a vision of developing a culture of champions athletically, academically and within the community. This vision is accomplished through a mission of recruiting and developing student-athletes, coaches and staff, creating a culture of champions, within and outside of competition. The department operates with five core values: Championship Culture, Integrity, Excellence, Pride/Tradition and Leadership. To learn more about the Vision, Mission and Core Values for Stetson Athletics, visit GoHatters.com and click on Mission Statement under the Inside Athletics tab.