By R.L. Bynum

There was outstanding starting pitching, drama at the end, and an atmosphere worthy of the postseason before a record crowd to see two in-state, highly ranked teams battle.

No. 11 East Carolina (4–1) broke loose for six eighth-inning runs after seven shutout innings from UNC starter Max Carlson and held on for a 6–5 victory Friday over the No. 12 Tar Heels in front of a Clark-LeClair Stadium-record 6,003 fans in Greenville.

“It was a great environment to play in. I love those kinds of things,” Carlson said. “But it doesn’t really matter at this point because it was a tough loss.”

UNC (4–2) tried to rally from three runs down in the ninth inning, and got RBI doubles from sophomore center fielder Vance Honeycutt and junior third baseman Mac Horvath. But junior catcher Tomas Frick flied out to left field with Horvath at third to end the game.

Carlson (top photo) rebounded from a shaky first start in a career-long outing. But the Tar Heels’ bullpen wasted his masterful performance and a big day at the plate from Horvath (3 for 5 with three doubles and an RBI) and junior transfer second baseman Jackson Van De Brake (2 for 4, with a homer and two runs).

The atmosphere was all new for Van De Brake, who played the last two seasons at Tacoma Community College.

“It’s what you always dream of,” he said. “I enjoyed it. It’s not something that you’re intimidated [by]; it’s something that you look forward to. That was a lot of fun for sure.”

Van De Brake wasn’t surprised when Carolina put up a fight in the ninth inning.

“We’re not gonna quit,” Van De Brake said. “One through nine guys, off the bench, we’re gonna go in there and compete. We were fighting, doing what we can. We came close, fell short. We’re gonna fight regardless.”

Carlson, who struck out nine and gave up only two hits, was effective with his fastball and changeup to rebound from Seton Hall scoring three runs in 4⅓ innings a week earlier. He threw strikes on 70 of his 95 pitches, eliciting 21 swings and misses.

“Not thinking, I guess, and just throwing the ball well,” Carlson said, explaining his success. “Just trying to give my team a chance to win.”

It all came apart for the Tar Heels (4–2) in the eighth inning once Carlson departed.

In that inning, the Pirates went through four UNC relievers, who gave up six hits, with sophomore left-hander Dalton Pence (1–1) tagged for three runs.

Carlson said that the bullpen can learn from Friday’s game.

“I think it’s gonna help a lot,” Carlson said. “We’ll play a lot of big games like this this season. And those guys have got to keep their heads up because we’re gonna need them later down the road. We’ve got a great staff.”

Pence walked Alec Makarewicz to start the inning. Then, Josh Moylan and Joey Berini hit back-to-back one-out RBI doubles. Freshman right-hander Cameron Padgett relieved Pence with one out and couldn’t handle a dribbler from Justin Wilcoxen, scoring Jacob Jenkins-Cowart. With two outs, junior right-hander Ben Peterson gave up a two-run single to Jacob Starling, and an RBI single to Luke Nowake.

It was an excellent pitchers’ duel before East Carolina starter Trey Yesavage departed after giving up only three hits and De Brake’s homer in six innings.

Junior college transfer second baseman Jackson Van De Brake (right) hit his second home run of the season Friday.

Carolina expected and is getting good defense from Van De Brake, but he didn’t come to Chapel Hill with a reputation as a power hitter. After Van De Brake hit only one home run in two seasons at Tacoma, he already has two in five games this season.

Van De Brake made a nice play to his left on the outfield grass to field a Moylan grounder and denied the Pirate a hit in the second inning.

UNC’s Alberto Osuna hit a drive to right field in the second, but ECU right fielder Carter Cunningham gloved it over the short wall to rob him of a home run. Van De Brake wouldn’t be denied in the third inning, with a deep leadoff home run to left field.

“I’m just gonna, regardless, stick to my game and do what I do,” Van De Brake said. “Definitely feeling good, though. I’m pretty confident right now. Got a good pitch to hit.”

Left fielder Lane Hoover led off the fourth inning with ECU’s first hit, but Carlson retired the next 10 batters — including five consecutive strikeouts.

Shortstop Colby Wilkerson continues to have an impact offensively, lofting a drive over Hoover’s head for a two-run, two-out double to left-center field in the seventh. That came after Hunter Stokely got hit by a pitch to start the inning, and Van De Brake laced a double down the right-field line.

NOTES — The series concludes at Boshamer Stadium on Sunday at 1 p.m. (ESPN3) since a forecast of rain led to the postponement of Saturday’s game. The teams will likely schedule a mid-week game later in the season. … Carolina’s likely starter on Sunday will be right-hander Connor Bovair, who gave up four hits and two unearned runs over 3⅔ innings Saturday against Seton Hall. … ECU won for the third time in the last four meetings but the Tar Heels lead the all-time series 53–33. … UNC coach Scott Forbes is 4–3 against the Pirates.