Updated June 23 2017
The Sharks were on the road looking to avenge an opening day loss against the Florence RedWolves.
Right from the start, the Wilmington bats jumped on Florence starter Bryan Quillens. Justin Dean led the contest off with a 5-pitch walk. Michael Sandle laced a Quillens’ fastball into the gap in left center field. Dean scored easily from first and Sandle was in to second with a stand-up RBI double. With 1 out, Trevor McCutchin singled up the middle to put the Sharks on top 2-0 over Florence.
In the bottom of the second the RedWolves loaded the bases after two, two out walks by Sharks starter Luke Gesell. The freshman from UNC-Wilmington then retired Storme Cooper to get out of the jam unharmed.
In the ensuing half inning, Luke Morgan and Trevor McCutchin hit back-to-back singles to put runners on first and third for Riley Knudsen. The Sharks first basemen flew out to left field, but it was deep enough to bring home his College of Charleston teammate, Luke Morgan, to extend the Sharks lead to 3.
In the fifth, the RedWolves finally got to Gesell and scored a run on a bases loaded walk to Zach Jacobs. The next batter, Kevin Woodall, struck out swinging on a Luke Gesell fastball to end the threat in the inning.
Wilmington pushed its 5th run of the night across on a 2-out RBI single by Luke Morgan. Morgan’s base hit in the 3rd extended his hitting streak to 6 games and his on-base streak to 15.
The RedWolves scored again in the 6th on a solo home run by Jim Wagner to right field. Colt Springs then retired the next six hitters he faced, striking out three, to head to the 8th inning.
In the 8th, Evan Brabrand ran into trouble. The junior from NC State gave up two hits and walked two and left the ball game with the bases loaded in a 5-3 contest. Out of the pen, Graham Lawson retired Storme Cooper on strikes to get out of the jam in the 8th.
In the 9th, Lawson faced four batters allowing one hit and striking out one in the half inning to close out the game. Wilmington captured its 8th win of the season and the 7th on the road 5-3 over Florence.
Luke Gesell (1-1) went 5 innings to earn the win and Graham Lawson picked up his first save of the season getting the final four outs. Bryan Quillens (1-1) received the loss for the RedWolves.
The Sharks return home tomorrow for a doubleheader with the Peninsula Pilots to make up for a June 17th rain out. First pitch is at 5:05 for Game 1 and Game 2 will follow 30 minutes after the first ends. Coverage on the CPL Webpass begins at 4:50 with The Sharks Pregame Show.
The Coastal Plain League is the nation’s premier summer collegiate baseball league. Celebrating its 22nd season in 2018, the CPL features 16 teams playing in Georgia, North Carolina, South Carolina and Virginia. The CPL has had over 1,450 alumni drafted and 111 of those – including 2011 AL MVP and Cy Young winner Justin Verlander – make their Major League debut; while another notable alum – Russell Wilson – won Super Bowl XLVIII. For more information on the Coastal Plain League, please visit the league website at www.coastalplain.com and follow us via Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and Snapchat @CPLBaseball..Contact:Sam Rubinoff
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