A stellar start from Daniel Cropper(UNC-Wilmington) and a five run third inning was enough to put the Sharks back in the win column as they beat Wilson 7-4.

Cropper allowed just one run and scattered four hits over seven innings of work racking up six strike outs. He bested his last outing by two innings as he picked up his first win of 2009.

The Sharks picked up a single run in the second but did major damage with the lumber in the third. Cole Rakar(College of Charleston) singled to start the inning. After Ben Kline(Nebraska) reached on a fielders choice, Adam Eggemeyer(SIU-Edwardsville) doubled home a run. With Kline and Eggemeyer at second and third Jesse Bosnik(St. Bonaventure) rolled one past the center fielder to plate two more and the route was on.

Click to hear a recap of the action on "Shark Bytes"

Cropper continued to cruise, striking out the side in the sixth before handing things over to Adam Gray(Mercyhurst) an inning later. Sean Toler(Missouri State) came on in the ninth to pick up his first save of 2009.

The Sharks travel to Wilson Thursday but will be back home to take on the Columbia Blowfish Friday night. It's Lifeguard Appreciation night at the tank. Life guards get in for free in uniform. Gates open at 6 p.m. with first pitch set for 7.

The Wilmington Sharks are members of the summer collegiate Coastal Plain League, the nation’s hottest summer collegiate baseball league. In 2008 the Sharks drew more than 50,000 fans to the “Shark Tank” for an average of 1,650 per game. For more information on tickets, merchandise or advertising opportunities please call (910) 343.5621 or email This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it . All games are played at Buck Hardee Field with first pitch at 7p.m. Gates open at 6p.m.

                                  Wilson at Wilmington
                   Jun 03, 2009 at Wilmington, NC (Buck Hardee Field)

  Wilson 4 (4-3)                                Wilmington 7 (3-4)

  Player                      AB  R  H BI       Player                      AB  R  H BI
  ---------------------------------------       ---------------------------------------
  Leeper, B. cf..............  3  1  1  0       Cole Rakar rf..............  5  1  1  0
  Lowe, E. ss................  5  0  0  0       Ben Kline lf...............  4  2  1  0
  Johnson, Z. 3b.............  4  0  0  1       Adam Eggemeyer cf..........  5  1  3  1
  Astor, J. 1b...............  4  0  0  0       Jesse Bosnik ss............  5  1  2  3
  Cornstublle, c.............  4  1  2  0       Drew Wingo dh..............  4  2  1  0
  Dowdy, J. lf...............  3  1  1  2       Alex Hill 1b...............  5  0  0  1
  Macklin, X. rf.............  4  1  2  0       Greg Bachman 3b............  4  0  3  1
  Watkins, A. 2b.............  2  0  1  0       Allen King c...............  4  0  2  1
   Johns, M. 2b..............  2  0  1  1       Curt Courtwright 2b........  3  0  0  0
  Huff, S. dh................  4  0  0  0       Daniel Cropper p...........  0  0  0  0
  Hernandez, J p.............  0  0  0  0        Adam Gray p...............  0  0  0  0
   Webb, A. p................  0  0  0  0        Sean Toler p..............  0  0  0  0
  Totals..................... 35  4  8  4       Totals..................... 39  7 13  7

  Score by Innings                    R  H  E
  -------------------------------------------
  Wilson.............. 001 000 003 -  4  8  2
  Wilmington.......... 015 100 00X -  7 13  1
  -------------------------------------------

  E - Leeper, B.(1); Watkins, A.(4); Bosnik, J.(2). DP - Wilmington 1. LOB - Wilson 7;
  Wilmington 11. 2B - Eggemeyer, A(2). 3B - Leeper, B.(1). HR - Dowdy, J.(1). HBP -
  Wingo, D.. SB - Leeper, B.(5).

  Wilson                         IP  H  R ER BB SO  WP BK HP IBB  AB BF  FO GO
  ----------------------------------------------------------------------------
  Hernandez, J  L,0-1........   2.1  8  6  5  0  0   1  0  1  0   15 16   2  4
  Webb, A. ..................   5.2  5  1  1  2  4   2  0  0  0   24 26   7  7

  Wilmington                     IP  H  R ER BB SO  WP BK HP IBB  AB BF  FO GO
  ----------------------------------------------------------------------------
  Daniel Cropper  W,1-0......   7.0  4  1  1  1  7   0  0  0  0   25 26   4  9
  Adam Gray .................   1.2  4  3  3  1  2   0  0  0  0    9 10   0  3
  Sean Toler  S,1............   0.1  0  0  0  1  0   0  0  0  0    1  2   1  0

  WP - Hernandez, J(1); Webb, A. 2(2). HBP - by Hernandez, J (Wingo, D.). PB - King, A.
  2(2).

  Strikeouts - Leeper, B.; Lowe, E.; Johnson, Z.; Astor, J.; Cornstublle,; Watkins,
  A.; Johns, M.; Huff, S. 2; Kline, B.; Bosnik, J.; Wingo, D. 2. Walks - Leeper, B. 2;
  Dowdy, J.; Kline, B.; Courtwright,.

  Umpires - HP: Chris Gonzales  1B: Shane Livensparger
  Start: 7:05pm   Time: 2:30   Attendance: 1004

  Game: WLM6-03