GREENVILLE, N.C. – East Carolina scored five runs in the middle innings Saturday to defeat the UNCG baseball team 8-3 in the first contest of the Keith LeClair Classic at Clark-LeClair Stadium. The Spartans fall to 1-2 overall while the Pirates improve to 1-3.

Junior RHP Ryan Clark was saddled with the loss, allowing five runs (four earned) on eight hits with a walk and two strikeouts in five innings pitched. Evan Kruczynski picked up the victory for ECU, giving up just one run on five hits over six innings pitched. He struck out seven against just one walk.

Freshman infielder Tripp Shelton notched the first two hits of his collegiate career, including a two-run home run, to lead the UNCG offense. Senior outfielder Zac MacAneney also recorded two base knocks while senior designated hitter Aaron Wright added a RBI. Additionally, senior infielder Hunter King extended his reached base safely streak to 35 games dating back to last season. Bryce Harman and Travis Watkins went 3-for-4 to pace the Pirates.

East Carolina put up the first offensive threat in the bottom of the second, putting runners on first and second with one out, but Clark produced two flyouts to escape the inning with no damage. UNCG responded with a rally of its own in the top of the third. Shelton recorded his first collegiate hit with a bunt single before MacAneney flared a single into shallow left field with one away. Senior outfielder Tyler Long moved the runners over with a sacrifice bunt, but King struck out swinging for the final out.

The Blue and Gold struck first in the top of the fourth. Junior infielder Collin Woody smashed a double to right center and Wright followed with a RBI single to put the Spartans ahead. ECU answered with two runs in the bottom of the fifth via a RBI triple and an error at third to take a 2-1 advantage. The Pirates began to pull away in the sixth with a pair of home runs, a solo shot by Luke Lowery and a two-run blast by Travis Watkins to make the score 5-1.

With two outs and the top of the seventh extended thanks to an East Carolina error, Shelton laced a two-run homer over the fence in right field to cut the Pirate lead to 5-3 at the seventh inning stretch. UNCG attempted to rally again in the top of the eighth, but a strikeout-throw out double play ended the Spartans' hopes of pulling any closer. ECU added three runs on three hits and an error in the bottom of the eighth to close out the scoring.

The Blue and Gold returns to the field later Saturday evening when the Spartans face off against No. 24 Liberty in their second contest of the Keith LeClair Classic. First pitch is slated for 7 p.m.

Follow the UNCG baseball team all season by logging on to www.uncgspartans.com and following the Spartans' official Twitter accounts @uncgbaseball/@uncgsports.