GREENVILLE — It is said that the most important factors in real estate are location, location and location.
That appeared to be the key in East Carolina’s early-season series with North Carolina as well.
After a pair of losses in Chapel Hill on Friday and Saturday, ECU was back in familiar territory on Sunday night for a 5-0 victory over the Tar Heels at Clark-LeClair Stadium.
Jake Hunter, Carter Spivey, C.J. Mayhue and Skylar Brooks combined for the shutout.
There was some closing drama as UNC loaded the bases with one away in the top of the ninth before Brooks posted a pair of strikeouts to deal the Heels (5-1) their first loss of the season and pick up his first save.
ECU’s mound quartet had 13 whiffs. Spivey (1-0) recorded seven of those in four and one-third innings of relief. The visitors were limited to four hits.
UNC had three errors and the Pirates took advantage to take a 1-0 lead in the second. Miscues by the middle infielders put Ryder Giles at third and he scored on a wild pitch by Shaddon Peaveyhouse (0-1).
Giles was hit by a pitch to start ECU’s half of the fourth. He went to second on a passed ball and scored on a double to right-center by Justin Wilcoxen for a 2-0 lead.
Bryson Worrell led off for the Pirates (2-5) in the seventh with a walk. He stole second and Josh Moylan walked. Alec Makarewicz reached on a fielder’s choice that retired Moylan at second. Makarewicz stole second and Giles walked to load the bases.
Jacob Jenkins-Cowart connected for a 2-run double and a 4-0 lead.
Wilcoxen homered to right-center in the eighth to complete the scoring.
The Pirates and Tar Heels have agreed to play again next year on the second weekend of the season. The first two games will be in Greenville and the third at UNC.
ECU plays Duke (4-3) at Durham Bulls Athletic Park on Tuesday at 4 p.m.
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