Fayetteville 4 – Wilmington 2

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Friday night the Fayetteville SwampDogs did their damage, beating the Sharks 4-2 at Buck Hardee Field.  A lead off hit by Sharks right fielder Jarred Jimenez opened the 2008 CPL season for the Sharks.  Jimenez came around to score and give Wilmington a 1-0 advantage that starter Dan Gerjets made stand up into the sixth inning. 

Gerjets, a Freshman from George Mason, shined through 5 1/3 innings striking out seven, walking two, giving up only one hit and one run to the visiting SwampDogs.

Fayetteville grabbed the lone run off Gerjets in the top of the sixth inning.  A clutch two out single from starting catcher John Nester in the bottom half of the sixth inning caused the Sharks to take a 2-1 lead.   The next inning the SwampDogs loaded the bases off Wilmington reliever Tyler White. Two runs scored to make a 4-2 final.

Florence 8 – Wilmington 3

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The Sharks scored first for the second game in a row, picking up two runs in the first inning of their first road game of the season.  Jarred Jimenez led off with a sharp single up the middle, stole second and went to third on a throwing error by the Wolves catcher. The first of two singles on the night for Mikel Alvarez brought Jimenez home. After swiping a base of his own, Alvarez came around to score when Sharks designated hitter John Nester reached on an error. After one the Sharks led 2-0.

A Florence run in the second and a Sharks run in the top of the fourth, gave Wilmington a 3-1 lead after three and a half innings.

A solo home run by Barret Klienknect greeted Sharks starter Brett Bloomquist in the bottom of the fourth. After issuing two walks and being called for a balk, Florence designated hitter Cody Stinger hit a three run home run to left for three of his four RBI’s on the night. Bloomquist left the game after the second home run lasting three and one third innings, giving up five runs on four hits and walking four. Pete Larson came on in relief and eventually nailed down the final two outs of the fourth.

Florence added two runs in the 5th and one more in the 7th to set the final score at 8-3.

Alvarez was a bright spot for the Sharks, going 2-for-4 with two stolen bases, one RBI and one run scored.

Columbia 6 – Wilmington 1

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The Columbia Blowfish came into town and rode the right arm of Keegan Linza to a 6-1 victory at the Shark Tank Monday night.

The Sharks offense was awake early again for the third game in a row when the boys from Wilmington plated a game-tying run in the second. But the spark ended there. Matt Kirchner laced a one out double down the line and was brought home by a Daniel Parker single. That single proved to be the last hit for the Sharks on the evening.

Linza, the Blowfish righty from the University of South Carolina, allowed just one more base runner as he worked a solid 8 innings. He sat down the last 17 Sharks he faced.

Starter Eric Callender traded blows with Linza into the 5th inning but allowed three runs on seven hits and a walk. Tyler White came into his second game of relief to provide the lone bright spot for the Sharks. White struck out seven in his three innings of work, giving up just one unearned run. Starting shortstop Justice French took the ball in the ninth and gave up two runs, one earned, and struck out one.

Wilson 7 – Wilmington 6

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The Sharks battled back from a four run deficit in Wilson Tuesday night but let two late leads slip away in a 7-6, ten-inning loss to the Tobs.

The Tobs jumped out to a 4-0 lead after four innings off starter Dan Gerjets. Wilmington climbed back into the game, with the help of five Wilson errors, only to have a bases loaded hit batsman end the game and send the Sharks to 0-4 on the young Coastal Plain League season.

In his second start Gerjets lasted three and two thirds giving up four runs, three earned, on ten hits and a walk. The Sharks cut the Wilson lead in half with two in the fifth when Matt Kirchner connected for the club’s first hit. After a hit batsman, center fielder Cory Lyda hammered a ball into right center to drive in two and motor to his second triple of the season. Lyda was stranded at third.

Sharks reliever Matt Patterson held the Tobs hitless for three innings allowing Wilmington to take a 5-4 lead with three in the seventh. Lyda again drove two home with a bunt that the Wilson catcher fielded and threw down the right field line. Lyda ended up at third and scored on a Kolby Eply sac fly.

Sharks pitcher Cory Burgess worked out of jams in the seventh and eighth inning thanks to a slick 6-3 double play turned by Justice French to end the eighth and keep the Sharks up one into the bottom of the ninth. With two down Kevin Weidenbacher started the Wilson rally with a double off Burgess. Then Tob’s first baseman Dan Capeless drove a pinch runner home to send the game into extra innings tied at five.

The Sharks answered in the tenth when an Eply walk and another Tobs error put runners on second and 3rd with just one out. John Nester delivered the Sharks their second lead of the night with a sac fly to center.

After a hit batsmen and a sacrifice, Sharks right hander Kyle Deese gave way to Jarad Miller with a runner on second base. A double by the Tob’s Chris Henderson brought the tying run home. After two walks and a pop out, the bases were loaded for Justin Parks who was hit by the pitch to end the game.

Lyda’s final line of two for four, a run scored and two RBI remained a positive for the Sharks despite the outcome. The pitching of Patterson also a positive sign for the Sharks as they search for their first win.