Both the American and National All-Star Squads were only able to plate across two runs to end in a 2-2 in the 2009 CPL All-Star Game Presented by Taco Bell Tuesday night.

Though the enthusiastic crowd of over three thousand packing the stands at the "Shark Tank" could have probably cared less as they got a well contested ball game and a great evening of good ole fashioned fun at the ball park.

This game did have everything but a winner. From a solo go ahead home run in the eighth inning to a clutch run coming home in the bottom of the same frame, the excitement could be felt from dugout to dugout and beyond at Buck Hardee Field.

After two scoreless frames the National jumped on top as Dylan Petrich(Texas A&M) rifled a two out single to drive home a run. Then, stellar pitching ensued over the middle innings.

It would take a wild throw on a fielders choice to bring in the first, and tying run for the American club. With runners on at first and second Billy Swanson(Cal State Northridge) of Edenton bounded a fielders choice to short, when the throw from the second baseman on the turn to first dribbled wide, Asheboro's Thomas Pope(UNC-Wilmington) scampered around third to set the score at 1-1.

The aforementioned home run came in the very next frame as Edenton's Gerard Hall(Old Dominion) rocked a ball to deep left center to break the game at 2-1. Hall took home offensive player of the game for his 2-2, one RBI, one HR night.

Coming back in the bottom half of the eighth the American club evened the final score with a run scoring single off the bat of Penninsula's Jake McAloose(Old Dominion).

Out of pitchers for extras both clubs would call on offensive players and the two chosen shined. Peninsula's Will Lamb(Clemson) with the game still knotted in the bottom of the 10th made it stick with a scoreless frame against the Americans. Meanwhile Florence Redwolves short stop Barrett Kleinknecht(Francis Marion) picked up defensive player of the game honors for throwing a scoreless frame with a strike out after playing an errorless short stop.

For the Sharks Daniel Cropper(UNC-Wilmington) threw a scoreless inning for the National club, while American All-Stars Jesse Bosnik(St. Bonaventure) and Adam Eggemeyer(SIU-Edwardsville) were held hitless.

After the hubbub of the All-Star festivities dies down, the Sharks will be back home for more action Thursday night. It's a Thirsty Thursday presented by Front Street Brewery, as well as a double header. Gates will open at 5 p.m. with first pitch of the first game against the Fayetteville Swampdogs set for 6 p.m. Come on out and enjoy dollar beers and dollar soft drinks all night long.

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.