WILMINGTON — East Carolina scored first and never trailed in a 5-3 win at UNC-Wilmington on Wednesday night.

The Pirates improved to 7-5-1 going into a weekend series at No. 16 Coastal Carolina while the Seahawks slipped to 7-6.

ECU scored twice in the top of the third after Walker Barron led off with a single to right field. Barron went to third on a single by Braden Burress and came home on a wild pitch.

Grady Lanahan had a sacrifice fly that brought in Burress for a 2-0 lead.

J.P. Pennella had an RBI single for UNCW in the sixth to cut the lead to 2-1.

The Pirates got the run back in the seventh on Austin Irby’s 2-out single to bring in Burress.

ECU extended the advantage to 5-1 in the eighth on an RBI single by Barron and a sacrifice fly by Lanahan.

The Seahawks scored twice in the bottom of the ninth as a run came home on a double play and Cole Nelson had an RBI single.

Ryan Towers pitched a scoreless first inning for the Pirates. Joe Webb (1-2), who got the decision, went four innings. He allowed two hits and one run (earned) with one walk and five strikeouts.

Sean Jenkins delivered three scoreless innings with two hits, no walks and one whiff.

Brett Antolick pitched the ninth for ECU surrendering three hits, two runs (both earned) with no walks and one strikeout.

The Pirates had an 11-8 lead in hits as Burress, Lanahan, Irby, Colby Wallace and Barron had two hits each.

UNCW is scheduled to play in Greenville on March 31.

The Pirates start the series at Coastal (7-5) on Friday at 6 p.m. (ESPN+).