GREENVILLE — The pitching of Ethan Norby and Ethan Young helped East Carolina to a 3-2 win over Memphis in the American Athletic Conference opener for both clubs at Clark-LeClair Stadium on Friday night.

Norby (3-2) started and went five and one-third innings. He yielded four hits, including a pair of solo homers, while walking two and striking out five.

Jonah Sutton homered for the Tigers (11-10) in the second and Shane Cox sent a blast over the left field fence in the fourth for a 2-1 Memphis lead.

“We always tell our pitchers that solo home runs don’t beat us,” said ECU coach Cliff Godwin on the Pirate radio network.

Young prevented any further damage as he went the last three and two-thirds innings. He allowed two hits and no walks while fanning five.

The Pirates (13-9) took a 1-0 lead in the first when a ground out by Walker Barron allowed Braden Burress to come home.

ECU scored twice in the fourth on an RBI single by Alex Bouche and a sacrifice fly by Alex Peltier.

The Tigers threatened in the ninth, but Young got a game-ending strikeout to strand runners at second and third.

Each team had six hits. Colby Wallace was 2-for-4 for the Pirates with a double and a run.

The second game of the series is scheduled for Saturday at 4 p.m.