LAURINBURG – St. Andrews used a sacrifice fly from Adrian Rivera to take a 6-1 lead in the bottom of the sixth inning, but 11th-ranked UNCP scored three runs in each of the seventh and eighth innings, and then used Joe Mangum's RBI double in the 10th to put the caps on an 8-7 comeback win on Wednesday afternoon at Clark Field.

The triumph pushed UNCP's (12-0) season-opening and school record winning streak out to an even dozen, while also giving the Braves their eighth-straight win in the series with St. Andrews (4-6). It was the third-straight road victory for the Braves over their U.S. 74 rivals as well.

The Braves got hits from seven different players, with newcomer Brad Bridgeman driving in two runs on a 1-for-2 outing that included his first home run of the season. Josh Haley (1-for-5) and J.J. Williams each scored a pair of runs for the Black and Gold as well. Aaron Parnell (1-for-1) and Joe Mangum (1-for-5) both turned in a pair of RBI as well.

Jake Anderson tallied a team-best four hits on five trips to the plate for St. Andrews, who also got a perfect 3-for-3 outing from Joe McCarty. Anderson and Sebastian Ray each drove in a pair of runs for the Knights as well.

Braxton Lewis, the third of four relief pitchers on the day for the visitors, picked up the win by striking out one and yielding just two hits in two innings of work, while preseason all-American Brian Willis picked up his second save of the campaign by working a perfect 10th inning. UNCP starter Thomas Allen allowed five runs (two earned) on seven hits and a walk, but was not awarded a decision. He also struck out four.

Ray saddled the loss for the Knights after allowing one earned run on one hit, two walks and a pair of hit batsmen in the final frame. It was the first earned run he had allowed all season. Ray, John Allen Renn and Jason Murray hurled a pair of innings for St. Andrews, with four other pitchers seeing action for the hosts as well.

St. Andrews got things started in a hurry, loading the bases on singles from each of its first three batters to set the table for a two-run single from Anderson. The Knights would extend the advantage out to 5-0 in the fourth, utilizing three hits, a walk and a costly throwing error to plate three more runs – all with two outs showing on the left field scoreboard.

Williams broke up a no-hitter with a two-out RBI single in the fifth to finally give the Braves something to work with, but St. Andrews re-upped its lead back to five runs, 6-1, on Rivera's knock in the bottom of the sixth.

UNCP cut the lead to just two runs by sending seven batters to the plate en route to a three-run seventh, but the Knights answered again in the bottom of the frame, this time getting a RBI single from Jason Murray to push the lead to 7-4. The Braves would eventually tie the score in the eighth however, using Bridgeman's two-run blast to left field, as well as Parnell's RBI single four batters later, to get things all square heading to the ninth.

After nothing doing for either team in the ninth, UNCP got Kenny Mickens aboard via a leadoff walk, but the momentum changed shortly thereafter when Williams grounded into a double play. However, Ray plunked each of the next two batters before Mangum delivered the goods on a run-scoring double to the gap in left field.

UNCP will be back in action again this weekend when the Braves open Peach Belt Conference play by hosting seventh-ranked North Georgia (8-1, 0-0 PBC) in a three-game series at Sammy Cox Field. First pitch of Saturday's weekend-opening doubleheader is set for 1 p.m., with the teams closing out the set on Sunday at 1 p.m. as well. Admission prices are $5 for adults and $2 for children 18 years of age and younger. UNCP students are admitted free with a valid Braves Card.