GREENVILLE, N.C. - A three-run bottom of the first inning propelled East Carolina past Longwood in the final game of the three-game series, 5-3, and the Pirates clinched a sweep Sunday afternoon at Clark-LeClaire Stadium.

Sophomore right-hander Zach Potojecki (0-1) was impressive in his season debut, but took the loss despite striking out a career-high five batters. Potojecki allowed all five runs, with four earned, and had only allowed three earned runs through six innings before he was knocked out of the game after allowing a run with two outs in the seventh.

"I thought Zach was outstanding for us," head coach Ryan Mau said. "He gave us an opportunity to win and that is what we ask from our starters."

Longwood (0-3) started the game quickly off of East Carolina starter Jimmy Boyd. The Lancers got to Boyd (1-0) for two runs in the first inning before the righty settled in to hold Longwood scoreless over the next four innings.

"Offensively we came out firing today, which was great to see," Mau said. "Defensively we have to do a better job of putting up zeros after we score."

East Carolina (3-0) got the majority of its production from the middle of the order. Charlie Yorgen, Travis Watkins, and Bryce Harman combined to go 6-11 with three runs scored, two RBI, and two doubles. Each of the three had a pair of hits and a run scored in the game. Watkins put the game out of reach in the seventh inning with a double to right field that plated Yorgen.

The Pirates never gave the lead back to the Lancers, extending their one-run lead to two with an RBI triple by Jeff Nelson in the fourth and then answering Longwood's single tally in the seventh with Yorgen's double. Joe Ingle pitched the final two innings to nail down his second save of the season after closing out Saturday's near-comeback effort by Longwood.

"Today we did a solid job in all three phases of the game and again we had a chance with the tying run at the plate in the ninth," Mau said. "I liked the way we competed all weekend against a tough opponent in a big venue."

In the loss Longwood got a strong game from sophomore shortstop Michael Osinski.

The Vestal, N.Y., native got the Lancers on the board in the first inning with an RBI single to plate senior C.J. Roth, who singled to start the game. Osinski smacked a two-out double to left in the sixth inning and finished the game 2-4 with his second two-bagger of the season.

Longwood got a man on and brought the potential tying run to the plate in the fifth, sixth, and seventh innings, but it wasn't until the seventh when the Lancers broke through for their second scoring inning of the game.

Longwood's preseason First Team All-Big South selection Connar Bastaich started the frame with a double, but was still standing on second base with two outs. That's when junior catcher Mac McCafferty lined a single to right, which brought home Bastaich and cut the deficit to one.

Roth, the senior second baseman, was 1-for-2 with a run scored, upping his season average to a team-high .429 (3-for-7).

On the weekend sophomore outfielder Sammy Miller contributed throughout the weekend series, hitting a combined 3-for-10 with two doubles and two RBI, both on Saturday night. Miller started each game of the three-game set. In 2015 Miller started in just seven games and had only five hits on the season.

"Although the outcome wasn't what we wanted, we will benefit greatly from this experience as we head forward," Mau said.

Longwood returns to Farmville and opens up Buddy Bolding Stadium Tuesday against Richmond, a 3 p.m. first pitch.

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