Three unearned runs come back to beat the Sharks as they drop a tough game 5-3 to Fayetteville Thursday night at the "Shark Tank." Click to listen to a Shark Bytes recap.

Kolby Epley(College of Charleston) drove a clutch two run single up the middle in the bottom of the eighth to pull the Sharks back into the game. But two passed balls charged to the Wilmington catcher, under some unfortunate circumstances, put an early damper on the ballgame and spotted Fayetteville two runs.

Trouble picking the ball up out of the pitcher's hand contributed to both passed balls as well as struggles for hitters at the plate. The passed balls came in the same at bat in the second with runners on third against starter Matt Freeman(Nebraska). Freeman threw well into the sixth giving up just one earned run while striking out eight.

One run came home for the Sharks in the fourth off the bat of Bobby Leeper(UNC-Wilmington). With two down and the bases loaded, Leeper laced a single right back up the box to drive Neal Pritchard(Elon) home from third and make it 3-1.

Two SwampDog runs in the seventh and eighth made it 5-1 headed to the bottom of the eighth. Leeper got things started this time with a single. After Hunter Owen(Milsaps College) followed suit, both runners were safe on a double steal with Epley at the plate. After battling on a full count Epley came through with the big knock to make it 5-3.

In the bottom of the ninth the Sharks brought the winning run to the plate with two down, but could not drive them home and fell to 20-24 on the season. With the loss and an Outer Banks win the Sharks fall 2.5 games out of the race for a wild card playoff spot. 

Tyler White(Alabama) worked a hitless seventh and eighth giving up just an unearned run while striking out six.

Wilmington will face the Wilson Tobs the next two nights. Friday they will be in Wilson, but the Sharks will be back at Buck Hardee Field Saturday night. The gates open at 6pm, the game starts at 7pm.