Sending eight to the plate in the first and ten in the fourth, the Sharks jumpped out to an early lead and held on to beat the Redwolves 10-8 in Florence Saturday night.

The Sharks started the ball game swinging picking up four runs in the first. With two downMike Alvarez(Florida Gulf Coast) got it all started with a single up the middle. Two walks loaded the bases for Kolby Epley(College of Charleston) who drove two home with a single. The very next batter, Neal Pritchard(Elon) followed suit and lined a single to center to bring two more home. Starter Mike Rudman(Miami) would give two back in the bottom of the first but after one the Sharks had a 4-2 lead.

Still leading by two the Sharks would load the bases with nobody out in the top of the fourth before Matt Kirchner(Elon) was hit by the pitch to drive in one. Bobby Leeper(UNC-Wilmington) smashed what turned out to be just an RBI single off the right center field wall to drive in another and chase starter LA Owens from the game. An error on a Ryan Graepel(North Carolina) grounder would plate two more. The fifth run of the frame, ninth on the night would come home on a wild pitch. The Sharks held a 9-2 lead after four.

In the sixth Graepel would add on another run, blasting his first home run of the season over the left field wall. Rudman would leave after five innings giving up four runs on six hits striking out six. It took five Sharks relievers to finally close the door on the Redwolves, withChirs Powell(Presbyterian) finally coming in to get the last two outs. After more than three and half hours the Sharks early offense would prove enough to pick up the win.

With the win the Sharks record moves to 20-23 as they head into the CPL All-Star break. After the four day rest the Sharks will be back in action at home Thursday against the Fayetteville Swampdogs. Come on out and watch the Sharks as they make a push for the playoffs. The game starts at 7pm.  -Courtesy Wilmington Sharks