DURHAM — Sixth-ranked North Carolina scored twice in the fifth inning and four pitchers combined for a shutout in a 2-0 win over East Carolina at Durham Bulls Athletic Park on Saturday.

It was the opening game of a multi-site series. The second game is scheduled for Boshamer Stadium in Chapel Hill on Sunday at 1 p.m. The Pirates will host game three on Monday at 5 p.m.

UNC (5-0) got a leadoff single from Gavin Gallaher in the top of the fifth and he moved to third on a one-out double by Hunter Stokely. The Tar Heels took a 1-0 lead when a grounder to first base by Kane Kepley allowed Gallaher to come home.

An RBI single by Tyson Bass completed the scoring.

Sophomore left-hander Ethan Norby slipped to 0-2 with the loss. He started and went four and one-third innings with six strikeouts. Norby allowed four hits and two runs, both earned, while issuing a pair of walks.

Ethan Young pitched three and one-third scoreless innings for the Pirates with five whiffs. Brad Pruett checked the Tar Heels in the ninth.

ECU (2-2) stranded 10 baserunners, leaving the bases loaded in the fifth and seventh. The Pirates had a 6-5 lead in hits.

Jason DeCaro (2-0), Ryan Lynch, Matthew Matthijs and Walker McDuffie (save, 1) comprised the progression on the mound for UNC.