CHARLOTTE —East Carolina scored three runs in the first inning and maintained the lead in a 12-4 win at Charlotte on Sunday to stop a 6-game losing streak.

The Pirates improved to 21-16 overall and 7-5 in the American Athletic Conference going into a game at home with UNC-Wilmington (18-18) 0n Tuesday at 6 p.m.

The nonconference rivals have split matchups this season with the Seahawks winning, 9-4, in Fayetteville on March 18 and ECU evening the series with a 10-6 win in the Port City on a 10th-inning grand slam by Alex Bouche on April 1.

The elation of that triumph preceded the 6-game losing streak that the Pirates set about ending on Sunday with a 3-run double up the middle by Walker Barron with two out in the top of the first inning.

Charlotte starter Sebastian Perez (0-1) faced just four batters.

Spencer Nolan had a 2-run single for the 49ers (21-14. 8-4 AAC) in the second that reduced ECU’s lead to 3-2.

John Collins answered with a 2-run homer for the Pirates in the third. The hosts closed within 5-3 in the third when Cody Gunderson scored on a wild pitch.

Colby Wallace had a solo homer for ECU in the fifth. The Pirates pushed the lead to 7-3 in the sixth when Austin Irby came home on a wild pitch. Irby had an RBI single in the eighth.

ECU added four runs in the ninth as Kenan Bowman drew a bases-loaded walk, Barron hit a 2-run single to right and Irby had a sacrifice fly.

Lance Williams (1-1) pitched the third inning and was credited with the win. Sean Jenkins went the last six innings with eight strikeouts for his first save.

Barron was 3-for-4 with five RBIs as ECU outhit the 49ers, 11-9. The hosts committed three errors while the Pirates didn’t have a miscue.

Braxton Tramel did not see action Sunday after he was taken out of the game in the sixth inning Saturday following a collision with shortstop Alex Bouche while Tramel was playing third base.