WILMINGTON, N.C. – In what turned into two must-win games for the Wilmington Sharks in the Sunday twilight, they came through with flying colors. In a game resumed at 0-0 in the bottom of the fourth, the Sharks used timely hitting and a little luck to win 2-0. In the regularly scheduled game of the night, Wilmington jumped out with a six-run second and cruised to an 8-0 win over the Blowfish for the sweep on Fan Appreciation Night at the Shark Tank.

The wins carried more significance as the first eliminated Columbia (23-31, 11-15 CPL second half) from the playoff picture and it kept the Sharks (26-27, 12-13 CPL second half) virtually tied with Asheboro, who won 4-1 over Fayetteville.

The first game continued the way it began Saturday night in Columbia with pitching ruling the roost. The game remained scoreless until the seventh inning when Kenny Bryant singled to center. After Greg Fujii was hit by a pitch, Bryant stole third. The catcher’s throw went into left field, allowing Bryant to make it 1-0 Sharks.

The Sharks would add an insurance run in the eighth when Aaron Preston crushed a ball out of the park to make it 2-0. It was the third home run on the year for Preston and his second in as many games.  The ball cleared the netting beyond the left-center field wall and landed on the equipment shed, a distance of at least 400 feet.

Justin Somers (W, 2-2) relieved Atlee Pearson, who started the game the previous night, and went allowed four hits, no runs and struck out three. Ryan Gunther (L, 1-3) relieved Jake Long and went five innings, allowing two runs on two hits and striking out four. Patrick Mincey got his seventh save of the year going 1-2-3 in the ninth to end the game.

The second game of the night was all Wilmington in the second inning. Fujii, Ben Fish and Matt Willis walked to load the bases. After Conor Szczerba lined out to the shortstop, Chris Mazza drew the fourth walk of the inning to score Fujii. Alex Hill was then hit by a pitch to score Fish and make it 2-0. Aaron Miller’s single scored Willis and then Mazza on a throwing error to make it 4-0. After Preston walked to load the bases again, Joey Rapp doubled to right-center, scoring Hill and Miller to make it 6-0. All in all, Columbia starter Jake Zokan (L, 2-3) allowed five walks in and hit a batter in the second inning.

The Sharks would add on in the fourth inning when Miller scored on a wild pitch to make it 7-0. He had previously reached on an error, advanced to second on a walk, then advanced to third on a passed ball.

Another Wilmington run would score in the sixth when Rapp’s single to center scored Miller from third to make it 8-0.

Joe Wagstaff got the win in the seven-inning game, going six innings, allowing four hits, no runs and four strikeouts. Preston went a combined 1-3 on the night at the plate with a home run and six walks. Miller went 1-3 in the second game with one RBI and three runs scored.

The Sharks have concluded their regular season home schedule. They travel to Morehead City on Monday, August 2 for a doubleheader starting at 6:05 p.m. If Wilmington wins both games, they qualify for the Pettitt Cup Playoffs. If they split the two games, then they will be tied with Asheboro in the standings and the July 17 game with Outer Banks will be finished on Tuesday, August 3 at Buck Hardee Field. That game was tied 2-2 in the bottom of the sixth. If the Sharks lose both games, they are eliminated and Asheboro goes to the playoffs.