Clutch Hits Give Sharks 2-1 Win
Published on July 27, 2011 under Coastal Plain League (Coastal Plain)
Wilmington Sharks News Release
The Wilmington Sharks received two pivotal hits in the bottom of the eighth as they came away 2-1 winners over the Florence RedWolves in CPL South Division action Wednesday night.
The win assures the Sharks (11-9) that they will keep pace with Fayetteville and Morehead City in the South Division race, as the Swampdogs and Marlins played each other Wednesday night in Fayetteville.
The Sharks and RedWolves (9-11) played a speed game through seven innings, as both starters mowed down hitters as there was a combined nine 1-2-3 innings between the teams going to the top of the eighth. Florence broke through first, when Jacob German reached on a Sharks error with one out and was awarded second base after the ball got into the Sharks dugout area. A groundout advanced German to third before he scored on Blake Barber's two-out single into left field.
Wilmington answered in the bottom of the eighth, first as Aaron Preston reached to open the inning before stealing second and advancing to third on a wild pitch. After Jeff Moyer struck out, Eric Mayers stepped in and delivered an RBI stand-up double to right-center field to tie the game at 1-1.
A Cam Cockman bunt moved Mayers to third base with two outs before Justyn Carter drew a full-count walk to give the Sharks runners at first and third. Alex Freedman drove the first pitch of his at-bat through the hole between the shortstop and third baseman to plate Mayers as the eventual game-winning run.
Ross Whitely came on out of the Sharks bullpen in the ninth and retired the RedWolves in order while striking out two for his eighth save of the summer.
Wilmington starter Zach Taylor (3-2) earned the win, delivering eight innings of four-hit baseball on the mound while striking out six Florence batters and allowing only the one, unearned run in the top of the eighth. Kenny Bryant had a double in the second inning and Moyer singled in the fifth for the only other Sharks hits of the night along with Mayers' and Freedman's in the eighth.
The Sharks host the Fayetteville Swampdogs at 7:05 on Thursday night in the final Fat Tony's Thirsty Thursday of the 2011 CPL regular season. Gates open at 6 p.m. for the important matchup in the South Division as the regular season comes down to its' final days.
Coastal Plain League Stories from July 27, 2011
- 2011 CPL Teams Combine to Break Single-Season Doubles Record - Coastal Plain
- Five-Run Seventh Inning Leads Fayetteville Over Morehead City, 8-3 - Fayetteville SwampDogs
- Big Sixth Inning Sinks Blowfish - Lexington County Blowfish
- Tobs Lose Fourth Straight - Wilson Tobs
- Clutch Hits Give Sharks 2-1 Win - Wilmington Sharks
- HiToms Slip Past Copperheads - High Point-Thomasville HiToms
- Mustangs Charge Past Owls, 3-1 - Forest City Owls
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