RedWolves slam Sharks, 9-4

WILMINGTON, N.C. — Sam DiMatteo and Myckie Lugbauer each homered to back a solid start from David Haselden as the Florence RedWolves defeated the Wilmington Sharks 9-4 in Coastal Plain League play Friday night.

DiMatteo went 2-for-5 with six RBI, including a grand slam when the RedWolves scored five times in the second inning for a 5-0 lead.

DiMatteo also had a two-run single in a four-run fifth that pushed Florence to a 9-3 lead.

Lugbauer was 4-for-5 with a double and a solo homer in the fifth.

Herman Petzold was 3-for-5 and Zach Caldwell was 2-for-4 for the RedWolves, who cranked out 12 hits.

“The guys came out and had a good approach all night offensively,” said Flor -ence coach Wes Davis. “They put some good swings on the ball. It was fun.”

Haselden (2-3) worked seven innings, gave up three hits, three runs, walked two and struck out five.

“David threw well. He didn’t really have his best stuff, but he was in the strike zone and competed,” Davis said. “He executed pitches when he needed to.”

Todd Miller pitched the eighth and ninth for Florence. He gave up two hits, a run, walked one and struck out three.

Chris Kennedy (1-2) took the loss. He lasted two innings, gave up four hits, five runs (four earned), walked three and struck out two.

Jesse Bosnik belted a three-run homer for Wilmington in the third inning.

The win moves Florence to 3-1 in the CPL’s second half and into first place in the South division by a half game over Wilson.

The RedWolves host the Fayetteville SwampDogs tonight at 7.