The Wilmington Sharks (10-6) dropped their first of two straight road games on the road Saturday night, falling to the Gastonia Grizzles 8-3 as the visitors were held to just four hits.

With the loss, the Sharks lead in the CPL South Division shrink back to just one-half game, this time with the Morehead City Marlins in second place after their win Saturday night. Fayetteville dropped to one game back and into third place in the South after losing to Columbia.

Kenny Bryant had a hit and scored twice in the Sharks' loss Saturday night.

Against Gastonia (9-9), the Sharks fell victim to an eight-ininng, three hit performance from Grizzles starter Michael Heesch, who also struck out eight.

Wilmington starter Chris Mazza fell to 4-3 on the season after allowing seven runs on 10 Gastonia hits over 5-2/3 innings of work.

The Sharks plated their first run in the top of the fourth, with Gastonia already having four runs on the scoreboard, before seeing the hosts extend the lead with two runs in the fifth and one run in both the sixth and seventh before the Sharks plated two runs in the top of the ninth for the final score.

Jeff Moyer, Kenny Bryant, Jake Mayers and Scott Coleman each tallied one hit apiece, with Mayers and Chris Dula picking up an RBI apiece. Bryant scored two of the Sharks three runs.

The Sharks had two of their four hits in the fourth inning, as Bryant singled with one out before Jake Mayers followed him up with an RBI double.

Down 8-1 in the ninth, Moyer opened the inning with a single before Bryant reached on an error that allowed the baserunners to each advance one base. Dula, pinch hitting for Mayers, fouled a sacrifice fly into foul territory to the first baseman before an error by the first baseman allowed both Moyer and Bryant to score.

The Sharks then saw Daniel Aldrich reach via a hit by pitch before he was retired by a fielders’ choice that allowed Scott Coleman to reach base. Coleman advanced to second on a Gastonia passed ball before Alex Freedman reached on an error to shortstop that put runners at the corners. Russ Stupienski flew out to right field to end the game.

The Sharks play in Asheboro on Sunday before returning home Monday to face Florence in a doubleheader with game one set to begin at 6:05.

The Wilmington Sharks gained some breathing room in the CPL South Division standings on Friday night when they defeated the Fayetteville Swampdogs 6-5, marking the first time the Sharks have defeated Fayetteville in Wilmington this summer.

With the win, the Sharks push one game up on Fayetteville and now sit 1-1/2 games ahead of Morehead City after the Marlins lost at Columbia Friday.

Jake Mayers' solo homer was the difference in the Sharks' win Friday night.

The Sharks transformed into the Wilmington McSharks for the game, wearing special jerseys that were auctioned off during the game with the proceeds going to the Ronald McDonald Houses of North Carolina.

Against Fayetteville, the Sharks used a Jake Mayers solo homer in the bottom of the seventh to take the lead in what proved to be the game winner.

The Sharks had two players tally two-hit nights, Mayers and Aaron Preston, as they only had six hits as a team in the win.

The Sharks opened the scoring in the bottom of the third inning before seeing Fayetteville tie the game in the top of the fourth. Wilmington answered with two runs in both the bottom of the fourth and fifth innings before seeing Fayetteville rally back and tie the game in the top of the sixth, paving the way for Mayer’s homer.

Sharks starter Mat Batts fared well through 5-2/3 innings, striking out five, but could not get the final out of the sixth and he gave up a four-run lead and was lifted.

In the third, Preston led off the inning with a walk before advancing around the bases and scoring two batters later on Justyn Carter’s single.

After Fayetteville tied the game in the top of the fourth, the Sharks regained the lead when Preston knocked a two-out, two-run double that scored Mayers and Scott Coleman.

The Sharks extended their lead in the fifth, scoring two runs off of zero hits as they were aided by Fayetteville errors, passed balls, wild pitches and a balk that brought a run in. However, the Sharks left the bases loaded to end the inning.

Fayetteville answered with four runs in the top of the sixth on four hits and one Sharks error to tie the game at 5-5 before Mayers knocked his solo homer with one out in the bottom of the seventh that just cleared the wall in left-center field.

Chris Dula (1-1) earned the win for the Sharks in 1-1/3 innings of relief as he struck out three of the four Fayetteville batters he faced.

Ross Whitley struck out one batter as part of a 1-2-3 ninth inning for his seventh save of the season.

Wearing Special Jerseys on Friday Night

The Wilmington Sharks of the Coastal Plain League have announced that Friday, July 22 will be McDonald’s McJersey McAuction Night where the Sharks will be wearing special jerseys that will be auctioned during the game with all money going towards the Ronald McDonald Houses of North Carolina.

Anyone wishing to participate in the auction can bid on specific player jerseys during the game on the main concourse inside the Shark Tank, and those unable to attend the game can also bid online via the link on the top of the team’s homepage at www.wilmingtonsharks.com.

Bids start at $50 per jersey.

The Wilmington Sharks are members of Coastal Plain League, the nation’s hottest summer collegiate baseball league.  Celebrating its 15^th season, The Coastal Plain League features 15 teams playing in North Carolina, South Carolina and Virginia.  The CPL gives college players the chance to refine their skills with the use of wooden bats.  Players are housed with local host families for the summer.  The CPL has had over 700 alumni drafted and 35 alums make their Major League debut thus far.  For more information on the Coastal Plain League, please visit the league website at www.coastalplain.com.