GREENVILLE, N.C.-- Mike Grace hit a three-run homer and Harrison Eldridge added a two-run shot to propel East Carolina past UNC Wilmington 12-8 Wednesday night at Clark-LeClair Stadium. In front of 3,444 in attendance, ECU used 16 hits and a strong performance from starter Scott Andrews to take the four-run victory over the Seahawks.

Eldridge and Billy Richardson led ECU (13-7, 0-3 C-USA) offensively. Eldridge hit 3-for-4 with two RBI and two runs scored while Richardson also went 3-for-4 with two RBI and three runs scored. Grace, Brian Cavanaugh and Dale Mollenhauer all collected two hits on the day.

Andrews earned his second win of the year, tossing 5 1/3 innings, allowing one run on just two hits while striking out six and walking one. Ricky Brooks relieved Andrews tossing 1 2/3 innings, allowing no hits while striking out one. Chris Powell and Brett Braxton each pitched an inning the finish the game with Powell allowing two runs and Braxton allowing five.

Zach Booker (2-1) suffered the loss for UNCW (13-11), allowing five runs on six hits while striking out one and walking three. Thomas Benton, Allen Flood, Andrew Morgan and Jared Sutton all pitched in relief of Booker. Chris Hatcher and John Raynor collected multiple hits for the Seahawks. Hatcher batted 3-for-5 with two RBI and two runs while Raynor hit 2-for-5 with two RBI.

The Pirates plated six runs in the bottom of the third to take the early lead. After Richardson walked and Eldridge singled to left-center, Mark Minicozzi doubled off the wall in right-center to bring home Richardson from second for the first run of the ballgame. With Eldridge on third and Minicozzi on second, Grace hit a line shot over the wall in left for his third home run of the season. Drew Costanzo, who reached on a walk, later scored on a single by Mollenhauer and Cavanaugh crossed the plate on a bloop single to center by Richardson to give the Pirates a 6-0 lead.

Costanzo scored his second run of the game in the fourth when a Jake Smith single to right scored him from second to give the Pirates a seven run lead.

Richardson singled to left, scoring Cavanaugh from third before Eldridge smacked his second homer of the season with a shot down the line in right, pushing the lead to 10-0.

UNCW got on the board in the sixth when Tim Preston, who singled earlier in the inning, scored on a Ricky Brooks wild pitch.

The Pirates added a late run when ECU loaded the bases in the seventh when Adam Hodges singled home Richardson.

Wilmington added two runs in the top of the eighth when Hatcher scored on a wild pitch by Powell and Matt Poulk scored on a Brad Stephenson passed ball and another five runs in the ninth. Lee McLean homered to left before Hatcher hit a two-run shot to left-center, cutting the lead to 12-6. Two more runs came across on a Raynor single to right to close the scoring at 12-8.

ECU will host Charlotte this weekend in the first C-USA series at Clark-LeClair Stadium March 25-27. The Pirates and 49ers will square off Friday at 7 p.m., Saturday at 6 p.m. and Sunday at 1 p.m.