GREENVILLE — East Carolina lead until the seventh inning, but fell behind and used a four run eighth inning to secure the 8-5 victory and complete the season-sweep over in-state rival University of North Carolina at Wilmington.

“We needed it. I knew it was going to be tough and we talked about it before the game,” ECU (30-10, 11-1 American Athletic Conference) head coach Cliff Godwin said. “You can throw records out, it’s a rivalry. If Trey Benton hadn’t been as sharp as he was, then we would’ve been in trouble, but (I) was really impressed by the resilience. Really the game was in the eighth.”

In the bottom of the eighth inning, Bryant Packard hit his third double of the game and allowed pinch-runner Christian Jayne to tie the game at five. In the second inning, pinch-hitter Lane Hoover stood at third, Packard at second for Spencer Brickhouse.

The Seahawks (20-22, 5-7 Colonial Athletic Association) intentionally walked Brickhouse to load the bases. Turner Brown hit grounder to the infield gap, but the UNCW second baseman couldn’t handle it. The error costed him two runs as Hoover and Packard scored. Brickhouse would round out the scoring in the inning, after Alec Burleson singled up the middle.

“You saw what they (UNCW) did to us in the regional last year, they’re a really tough team. Tonight shows the resilience of this team and I think we out-toughed them,” Packard said.

After holding a one-run advantage until the top of the seventh inning, UNCW took the lead as they scored two runs in the top of the frame. Seahawks’ right fielder Kep Brown hit an RBI single to score Zachary Bridges and Cole Weiss’ RBI single down the left field line that scored Jones took the lead.

The Pirates almost lost the lead in the sixth inning, as UNCW’s Bridges hit an RBI single to score Weiss with two outs. The next batter put the ball in play and Bridges was called safe on a play at the plate, but ECU catcher Seth Caddell immediately jumped up and called for Godwin to challenge the play. Godwin did, and ECU won the challenge to preserve the tie.

“Especially with the replay now, it’s a coin toss as if he’s out or safe, but I was the first one at the plate. I knew he was out because his literal hand was in my glove so I knew I got him,” Caddell said.

ECU regained the lead in the bottom of the sixth inning. Jake Washer and Thomas Francisco singled and Caddell followed it up with a triple to the center field wall that scored Washer and pinch-runner Giles.

Zach Barnes (2-2), earned his second win of the season after coming into pitch in the sixth inning. He pitched 1.1 innings and didn’t allow a hit to his six batters he faced. ECU used six pitchers to overcome the Seahawks.

“I liked that (the bullpen) kept out there fighting. We didn’t have our best stuff, but I think they feel comfortable,” Godwin said.

The Pirates will travel to Old Dominion on Wednesday before hosting another tough in-conference opponent in Tulane in an AAC weekend series.