GREENVILLE — East Carolina withstood an Elon rally in the eighth inning for a 4-3 win on Tuesday at Clark-LeClair Stadium.

The Pirates (13-8-1) had built a 4-0 lead before the Phoenix (9-11) made a comeback in the eighth. Sean Jenkins got a pop out to shallow left to strand two runners in scoring position after Elon had closed within a run.

ECU never trailed after taking a 2-0 lead in the second. Walker Barron doubled to score Davin Whitaker and a single by Braden Burress brought in Barron.

The Pirates added lone runs in the fourth and sixth. Colby Wallace homered to left center in the fourth and Barron had an RBI single in the sixth.

Lawson Wheeler and Gavin Bogdanchik had run-scoring singles for the Phoenix in the eighth. Another run scored on a fielder’s choice by Connor Roche before Jenkins left the bases loaded.

Jenkins went one and two-thirds innings for his second save. He allowed two hits and no runs with one walk and two strikeouts.

Junior left-hander Ryan Towers (2-0) started and went five innings. He yielded three hits and no runs while walking two and striking out five.

Frank Ciccone pitched a scoreless sixth. Charlie Hoagland was charged with two earned runs in the eighth and Gavin Marley gave up one.

The Pirates had a 9-8 lead in hits as Carlos Jacome, Whitaker, Wallace and Baron had two each.

ECU starts American Conference play on Friday at 6 p.m. at home against Alabama-Birmingham.