The Wilmington Sharks (16-19, 2-5 CPL second half) notched a season-high 18 hits, including six hits and six RBIs for leadoff man Alex Hill, but in the end the Florence RedWolves (23-11, 4-3 CPL second half) sent the Sharks home with a loss, winning 15-13 in extra innings on a walk-off home run by Mac Doyle to cap a wild back-and-forth contest.

The game was well into its fourth hour when Doyle hit a three-run homer to left field to give Florence the victory in the 10th inning after the Sharks had taken the lead in the top of the frame.  The home run topped off a 2-4 night at the plate for Doyle, who had three runs scored and 4 RBIs. 

Sharks newcomer Joey Rapp scored the game's first run in the top of the first on an RBI double off the bat of Kenny Bryant.  Florence tied the game in the bottom of the frame with a Doyle sacrifice fly.  Later in the inning, Atlee Pearson walked Seth Neely with the bases loaded before striking out Ryan Durrence with the bases loaded to end the inning with Florence up 2-1.

Pearson struggled for his second straight start.  He went four innings, allowing seven hits, eight runs (five earned) while walking four and striking out five.  Still, those were better numbers than Florence starter Matt Long who lasted five innings and allowed eleven hits and eight runs (seven earned). 

Alex Hill's three-run homer in the second was part of a five run inning that put the Sharks back on top.  Wilmington lead 8-5 after two and a half innings.  Florence would chip away with three runs in the fifth, one in the sixth and two in the seventh (on a Ryan Durrence two-run homer) to take a 11-8 lead into the eighth.

The Sharks would take a 12-11 lead with four runs in the top of the eighth.  Matt Willis scored on a wild pitch to cut the lead to two.  Then Chris Mazza reached on an error by Florence shortstop Herman Petzold, scoring Greg Fujii from third.  The Sharks would tie it on a Nate Horton RBI double followed by and double from Hill to score Horton and give the Sharks the one run lead.

But Trey Hernandez homered with one out in the ninth to tie the game.  Florence would strand two on in the inning when Justin Somers retired the side by getting Austin Smetana to hit into an inning-ending fielder's choice.

The Sharks regained the lead in the tenth.  Hernandez (1-0), one of the RedWolves most dangerous hitters on the year, came in to pitch the 10th.  With one out, Richie Allen reached base on another error by Petzold.  With two outs, he stole second and, after a Nate Horton walk, scored on an RBI single off the bat of Hill.  Florence rightfielder Smetana tried to throw Hill out at the plate.  Though he was unsuccessful, Horton was then thrown out in a rundown between second and third to end the inning.

Blaze Tart (1-1) relieved Somers in the 10th and promptly walked Petzold who advanced to second on a wild pitch.  After Hernandez struck out, Ethan Santora walked.  Zach Taylor came in to pitch for the Sharks and allowed the game-ending homer to Doyle, the first batter he faced.

It was the second extra-inning game in as many days for the Sharks and RedWolves.  Wilmington won a 5-4 contest the night before at Buck Hardee Field with a game-winning RBI single by Kenny Bryant in the bottom of the 13th. 

The Sharks are back in action Thursday, July 8 at Buck Hardee Field to take on the Fayetteville SwampDogs on Fat Tony's/Surf 98.3 Thirsty Thursday.