After leading for most of the game the Wilmington Sharks were had to score two runs in the eighth inning to beat the visiting Columbia Blowfish 6-4.
The opening night crowd at the Shark Tank was treated to quite a show Thursday night. Wilmington found themselves in a suddenly tight ballgame after leading 4-0 all night until a Blowfish rally in the eighth tied things up.
Facing their first bit of adversity of the season the Sharks responded as Alex Hill(UNC-Wilmington) led off with a single and then was sacrificed to second by Cole Rakar(College of Charleston) As Hill tried to swipe third, the catcher’s throw sailed into left field, allowing Hill to score the tie-breaking run.
Click to hear a "Shark Bytes" recap of last nights game.
Starting pitching set the tone early as Shark’s starter Daniel Cropper(UNC-Wilmington) held the Blowfish off the board through five innings, scattering two hits and a walk striking out seven.
Wilmington native Chris Powell(Presbyterian) allowed four in two and two thirds, though none were earned. Chris Kennedy(Davidson) picked up the win in relief. Hill sparked the offense going 3-4 with three runs scored.
The Sharks play the Blowfish again Friday, this time in Columbia, but will be home Saturday night against the Fayetteville Swampdogs. The game starts at 7:05, stick around after the game for a fireworks extravaganza.
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.
Columbia at Wilmington
May 28, 2009 at Wilmington, NC (Buck Hardee Field)
Columbia 4 (0-2) Wilmington 6 (2-0)
Player AB R H BI Player AB R H BI
--------------------------------------- ---------------------------------------
McBride, T. cf............ 4 1 1 0 Jesse Bosnik ss........ 3 0 0 0
Sullivan, S. cf........... 1 0 0 0 Andrew Guerra rf....... 3 0 0 0
Carter, C. 2b............ 5 1 1 0 Adam Eggemeyer cf.. 3 0 1 1
Santos, O. 3b.......... 5 0 1 0 Greg Bachman 3b.... 4 0 0 0
Leeds, M. dh............ 3 1 0 1 Alex Hill 1b.............. 3 3 2 0
Chinners, N. 1b........ 4 1 1 2 Cole Rakar lf........... 3 1 0 0
Long, J. lf................ 4 0 1 1 Adam Gray 2b.......... 3 1 0 0
Still, T. c................ 3 0 0 0 Allen King c............... 4 1 2 1
Grammar, G. rf......... 4 0 0 0 Ben Kline dh.......... 3 0 0 0
Williams, M. ss......... 3 0 2 0 Daniel Cropper p........ 0 0 0 0
Hopper, J. p............ 0 0 0 0 Chris Powell p.......... 0 0 0 0
Sullivan, P. p.......... 0 0 0 0 Chris Kennedy p...... 0 0 0 0
McCreery, B. p......... 0 0 0 0
Stuart, A. p.............. 0 0 0 0
Totals..................... 36 4 7 4 Totals..................... 29 6 5 2
Score by Innings R H E
-------------------------------------------
Columbia............ 000 000 040 - 4 7 3
Wilmington.......... 010 200 12X - 6 5 3
-------------------------------------------
E - Still, T.(1); Williams, M.(1); Hopper, J.(1); Bosnik, J.(1); Gray, A. 2(2). LOB
- Columbia 8; Wilmington 6. 2B - Chinners, N.(1); Long, J.(1); Hill, A.(1). SH -
Rakar, C.(1); Kline, B.(1). SB - Long, J.(1); Bosnik, J.(2); Hill, A. 2(2).
Columbia IP H R ER BB SO WP BK HP IBB AB BF FO GO
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Hopper, J. ................ 4.0 3 3 1 1 4 1 0 0 0 17 18 4 5
Sullivan, P. .............. 2.0 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 6 7 1 5
McCreery, B. .............. 1.0 2 1 1 1 0 0 0 0 0 4 6 2 1
Stuart, A. L,0-1.......... 1.0 0 2 0 2 0 1 0 0 0 2 5 1 2
Wilmington IP H R ER BB SO WP BK HP IBB AB BF FO GO
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Daniel Cropper ............ 5.0 2 0 0 1 7 0 0 0 0 18 19 3 5
Chris Powell .............. 2.2 5 4 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 14 14 2 4
Chris Kennedy W,1-0....... 1.1 0 0 0 2 2 0 0 0 0 4 6 0 2
