Sharks pick up win over Morehead City
June 16, 2011 - Coastal Plain League (Coastal Plain)
Wilmington Sharks News Release
Another game, another strong pitching performance for a Wilmington Sharks (7-9) starting pitcher. Thursday night it was left-hander Chris O'Grady, who delivered a 10-strikeout performance in the Sharks 5-4 win over the Morehead City Marlins (8-8).
O'Grady (1-0) only had one thorn in his side, Marlins first baseman Chase McDonald, who provided all of the offense for Morehead City with two two-run homers to center field.
As for the rest of the Marlins, O'Grady allowed a total of two hits and didn't allow a hit until there were two outs in the fifth.
Offensively for the Sharks, Daniel Aldrich, Jake Mayers and Russ Stupienski all turned in two-hit nights at the plate, but it will be Aaron Preston's 1-for-4 night that will get the most credit for the win.
Up 3-2 at the time, Preston came through with a two-out, two-RBI single that appeared at the time to break the game open but instead was the game winner.
Wilmington opened the scoring in the fourth when Aldrich doubled before later scoring when Mayers reached base via a Morehead City error. The Sharks added another run an inning later when Stupienski led off the fifth with a double off the base of the right field wall before scoring on a single from K.J. McAllister.
After McDonald's first two-run homer tied the game in the top of the sixth, the Sharks posted a three-spot on the board in the bottom of the inning.
Aldrich reached with a one-out single before he was followed on to the bases by Mayer with a walk. A sacrifice fly by Kenny Bryant advanced Aldrich to third, where, with Ricardo Lizcano hitting, Aldrich scored on a ball that squirted away from the Morehead City catcher. The close play was argued by Marlins head coach Jay Bergman, who was tossed after a lengthy, heated argument.
Lizcano would walk to set the stage for Preston's two-out, two-RBI hit that extended the Sharks lead to 5-2.
McDonald's second two-run homer in the eighth would be the last batter of the night for O'Grady, as reliever Ross Whitley struck out three of the four batters he faced to end the game.
The Sharks hit the road Friday night to play Fayetteville, but return to the Shark Tank Saturday night as they host the Gastonia Grizzles at 7:05. Saturday is WAVE Transit Night at the ballpark, and all fans riding the Wave Transit bus from Independence Mall to the Shark Tank receive a free ticket to the game. The contest is also Animal Emergency Bring your Dog to the Ballpark Night and the third annual Guns vs. Hoses charity softball game between Wilmington's police and fire departments takes place starting at 5 p.m.
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