In the fourth the Sharks picked up thier first run as Kolby Epley(College of Charleston) led things off with a single to right. After a balk and a groundout Epley stood on third base. In just his second at bat as a Shark, Hunter Owen(Milsaps College) picked up his first RBI lofting a fly ball to right to bring Epley home. After four Wilmington trailed 2-1.

Bryant Gaines(UNC-Wilmington) started and worked a strong seven innings giving up just three earned runs on seven hits. Gaines retired the first six he faced then held the the Hi-Toms off the board in his final two innings of work.

Headed into the top of the eighth the Sharks trailed it 4-1. Neal Pritchard(Elon) led things off with a home run to right center to pull the Sharks a bit closer. Matt Kirchner(Elon) then walked in front of Bobby Leeper(UNC-Wilmington) who mashed a double to center field to bring Kirchner home. Ryan Vander Tuig(San Jose State) held Thomasville off the board in the bottom of the eighth to give the Sharks a chance in the ninth trailing 4-3.

Again it was the newcomer Owen right in the middle of the scoring leading things off with a double. After a Ryan Graepel(North Carolina) bunt single, John Nester(Clemson) came up huge with a game tying single to center field. A double play ball prevented the Sharks from taking the lead as the score stayed knotted at four after eight and a half.

Vander Tuig again held the Hi-Toms scoreless with the help of Epley's arm gunning down a runner trying to swipe third. After the Sharks went down in the tenth, Tyler White(Alabama) came on in relief and threw a perfect inning but was touched up for the game winning run in the bottom of the eleventh.

Wilmington has one more on the road Saturday against Asheboro and then will be back home for "Bark at the Park" Sunday against the Fayetteville Swampdogs. All the action with man's best friend and baseball starts at 5pm.