The Sharks scored three runs in the eighth and ninth but were held to just four hits through the first seven as they fell 8-3 to the Florence Redwolves at the Shark Tank Tuesday night. Shark Bytes are back, click to listen to a recap with Ian Johns.

Bobby Leeper(UNC-Wilmington) and Ryan Graepel(North Carolina) were the only Sharks to reach base early on in the game. Leeper reached on consecutive singles ending the night 3-5, Graepel worked back to back walks and singled twice to go 2-2.

After starter Mike Rudman(Miami) gave up six runs in the third inning the Sharks offense could never fully recover. Ryan Vander Tuig(San Jose State) got the Sharks out of the third in relief and worked four more frames giving up two runs of his own. Wilmington native Chris Powell(Presbyterian) held the Redwolves off the board in his first two innings of the season.

The bats woke for a little late life starting in the eighth when Wilmington picked up two runs. With one down Leeper picked up his third hit of the night. Justice French(Mercer) picked up an infield single of his own. After Mike Alvarez(Florida Gulf Coast) was hit by the pitch to load the bases, Graepel grounded a ball deep in the hole at short. The defender tried to make the force at third but the throw got away allowing both Leeper and French to score.

One more run came home in the bottom of the ninth after Matt Kirchner(Elon) picked up a one out double and scored when French reached on an error.

Tomorrow the Sharks will take on the Wilson Tobs in a rare weekday daygame at the Shark Tank starting at 1pm. Its kids day out at the park with special deals for kids all night long. So bring the little ones out to Buck Hardee for all the fun of our national pasttime.