WILMINGTON, N.C.— After five innings of no scoring, the Wilmington Sharks and Columbia Blowfish exploded in the second half of the game for a combined 14 runs. However, it was the Blowfish who got more of the share as they crept closer in the race for the final CPL wild card spot with a 9-5 win at Buck Hardee Field.

The Sharks Zach Taylor (L, 3-2) and the Blowfish’s Matt Williams (W, 2-0) each got through the first five innings with little trouble. Taylor, who threw the CPL’s first perfect game on July 22, took a no-hitter into the sixth but he bats then first came alive for Columbia as Bryson Celek’s single scored Nick Orvin.  Williams scored on the throw to second to make it 2-0. After Corey Carver relieved Taylor, David Greene scored Celek to make it 3-0.

Wilmington responded in the bottom half of the inning when Aaron Preston’s single scored Kenny Bryant and Joey Rapp to make it 3-2 Blowfish.

Columbia picked up where they left off in the seventh when Demontez Jones scored on a wild pitch by Patrick Szczerba to go up 4-2. Williams then singled to score Orvin and then stole home home between pitches later in the inning to make it 6-2.

Again, the Sharks would not quit. A single by Rapp scored Chris Mazza to make it 6-3. However with the bases loaded, Bryant grounded out to the new pitcher Chase Pickering to end the inning. The Blowfish would then get that run back in the eighth when Taylor Black homered to left-center to make it 7-3.

Wilmington would continue to fight in the bottom half of the inning. Matt Willis’ fielder’s choice turned into another run when an error allowed Preston to score. After advancing to second on the error and to third on a balk, Conor Szczerba’s groundout scored Willis to make it 7-5 going into the ninth.

The Blowfish put the game further out of reach in the ninth when Chase Vergason’s single to right scored Orvin. Then Celek’s fly-out to center scored Williams to make it 9-5.

Derrick Smith came in the ninth inning and stopped the stretch of seven-straight half innings with a run by striking out Rapp, Bryant and Preston to end the game with two runners on.

Williams went 6.2 innings, allowed seven hits, three runs and struck out two. Taylor went 5.1 innings, allowed three hits, three run and struck in his last two games without a base hit. Willis was 2-4 with a run scored and Preston went 1-4 with two RBI’s.

As for the CPL playoff race, at press time, Asheboro lost game one of a doubleheader to Forest City so the Sharks are still leading the final wild card spot by half a game over Asheboro and now Columbia.

The Sharks return to action on Thursday, July 29 for the Last Call Thirsty Thursday presented by Fat Tony's and Surf 98.3. It's the final Thirsty Thursday of the season so don't miss it as the Sharks take on the Forest City Owls in inter-divisional action. It'll also be WWAY-TV3 Shirt Off Our Back Night where several lucky fans will win a game-worn Sharks jersey right off the players backs. Gates open at 6:00 p.m. and first pitch is at 7:05 p.m.