WILMINGTON, N.C. –The Wilmington Sharks came into the Big Splash on a three-game winning streak, having scored 26 runs combined during that stretch. Though the Sharks didn’t score near their previous three game totals (they scored 13 in a loss to Florence July 7), they scored just enough to get the 5-4 win over the Fayetteville SwampDogs Tuesday afternoon.

Despite a late night just hours earlier at Columbia, the Sharks (19-19, 5-5 CPL second half) struck first in the second as a Richie Allen fielder’s choice scored Kenny Bryant from third.

The SwampDogs (20-21, 8-5 CPL second half) would retaliate in the fourth with three runs to go up 3-1. Cory LeVier’s double down the right field line scored Nick Natoli from second. Chris Wychock’s double to right center scored LeVier for the second run and Jake Carlson’s single scored Wychock.

Wilmington pulled back one in the bottom of the fourth when SwampDogs starter Matthew Milroy walked Justin Robey with the bases loaded to score Bryant. The Sharks would even the score in the sixth when Greg Fujii scored all the way from first on a throwing error by new Fayetteville pitcher Justin Burns (L, 1-1).

Fayetteville jumped back ahead in the top of the seventh when LeVier singled to left center, scoring Christian Cummings to make it 4-3.

But the Sharks rallied again in the bottom half of the inning. Joey Rapp’s single through the left side scored Alex Hill to tie the game. Fujii then put the Sharks ahead when his sacrifice fly scored Miller from third.

Patrick Mincey, just selected to the CPL All-Star Game, then came in in the eighth to get the final six outs of the game for his sixth save of the year. Zach Taylor (W, 2-1) picked up the win for the Sharks having pitched the seventh. Rapp led the way offensively for the Sharks, going 3-4 with an RBI.