FAYETTEVILLE, N.C. –The Wilmington Sharks defeated the Fayetteville SwampDogs, 7-4 in the first game after the Coastal Plain League All-Star Break Wednesday night at J.P. Riddle Stadium.

Sharks starter Matt Talley (2-1) threw six solid innings, allowing two runs on six hits with two walks and five strike outs, to keep Wilmington ahead of the Fayetteville bats all night.  Patrick Szczerba and Corey Carver pitched the final three innings.  Carver threw a perfect ninth inning to pick up his second save of the year.

The Sharks struck first in the fourth off Fayetteville starter Tyler Niederklein (L, 3-4) when Matt Willis drove in Kenny Bryant with an RBI single.

Wilmington added on to the lead in the fifth when Ben Fish got hit by a pitch for the second time on the night. After advancing to second on a passed ball and third on an error by Niederklein, Aaron Miller drove him in with a center-field single to make it 2-0 Sharks.

The Sharks kept the scoring up with a four-run sixth to make it 6-0. Conor Szczerba’s bases loaded double cleared the bases to make it 5-0 Sharks.  After Andy Lowe replaced Niederklein on the mound, Richie Allen doubled to score Szczerba for the sixth run.

The SwampDogs responded in the seventh with three runs to make it 7-3. Joe Witkowski’s triple scored Brandon Padula for the first run. Nathaniel Lami’s single then scored Witkowski.  A Christian Cummins’ sacrifice fly scored Lami to make it 7-3 going into the eighth.

Fayetteville added another run in the eighth when an error by shortstop Aaron Miller scored Corey LeVier. With runners on first and third, relief pitcher Patrick Szczerba then got Benton Yaun to ground out to end the inning.

But Carver came in to get the final three outs.  He struck out the first two batters he faced and got Nick Natoli to ground out to end the game.

Kenny Bryant was 2-5 with three runs scored for the Sharks.  Conor Szcerba was 1-4 but had three runs batted in, all coming on that bases loaded sixth-inning double.   Brandon Padula had a 3-4 night with two doubles and a run scored for the SwampDogs in the losing effort.

The Sharks return to action on Thursday, July 22 for Fat Tony's/Surf 98.3 Thirsty Thursday against the same Fayetteville SwampDogs, but this time in Wilmington at Buck Hardee Field.  Adult fans ages 21+ can enjoy $1 drinks in the beer garden throughout the night, courtesy of Fat Tony's and Surf 98.3. It's also Coastal Athletics’ Shirt Off Our Back Night where fans can enter a raffle to win the Sharks' game-worn shirts from that night. Gates open at 6 p.m.  First pitch is at 7:05 p.m.