WILSON, N.C. – Separated by just 1.5 games in the CPL’s East Division, the Wilson Tobs hosted the Wilmington Sharks on Sunday evening inside of Fleming Stadium for a matchup with a huge playoff implications.

In one of the biggest games of the season, the Tobs came out on top over the Sharks by a final score of 4-1 on Sunday evening.

Entering the affair, Wilson trailed Wilmington by 1.5 games in the race for the second playoff spot in the CPL’s East Division.

When the Sharks took an early 1-0 lead in the top of the first via a Boston Smith solo blast to right center field, it looked like Wilmington might be on its way to extending that lead in the division.

However, the Tobs’ starting pitcher Jonah Milchuk settled down as the contest wore on, limiting the Sharks to that lone run through five complete innings of work on Sunday in a pitcher’s duel at Fleming Stadium.

As Milchuk dealed for Wilson, Wilmington starter Travis Lavendier held the Tobs scoreless through his five inning start. Through five innings on Sunday at Fleming Stadium, it was the Sharks who were clinging onto a slim 1-0 lead.

When the Tobs were finally able to get to the Shark bullpen in the sixth inning, the Wilson offense woke up. Scoring all four of their runs on the evening in the bottom of the sixth frame, the Tobs took the lead thanks to a parade of singles.

Four singles in the sixth inning, accompanied by two walks as well, saw four Tobs cross the plate in the sixth, to give Wilson the lead for good in a tightly contested contest.

Barton College Bulldogs Andrew Simone and Tanner Halvorson combined for the final four innings of work out of the bullpen on Sunday for the Tobs, shutting down the Shark lineup and propelling the Tobs to victory.

By tossing the ninth inning and slamming the door shut on Wilmington, Halvorson collected his second save of the 2024 campaign for Wilson.

The Tobs (22-16) are now just half a game back of the Sharks (23-16) for the second playoff spot in the CPL’s East Division with 10 games to play in the regular season.

Wilson is back in action on Wednesday, July 17, following back-to-back days off, to take on the Peninsula Pilots at War Memorial Stadium in a battle between two of the top teams in the CPL this summer.