PEMBROKE – UNCP rallied for four quick first-inning runs behind senior Brian Willis's first start in nearly two seasons as the seventh-ranked Braves registered their sixth consecutive victory with an 11-2 rout of visiting Mars Hill on Wednesday afternoon at Sammy Cox Field.

The triumph marked the fourth-straight series victory for UNCP (21-3) against its region rivals, but the first meeting between the two clubs since the Braves opened up their 2007 campaign with a three-game sweep of the Lions at home. The setback marked the fifth loss in the last seven outings for Mars Hill (12-17).

UNCP got three hits apiece from both Keith Whitman (3-for-3, 3 R) and Josh Haley (3-for-5, 2 R), with newcomer Brandon Huffman driving in a pair and scoring once on a perfect 2-for-2 hitting line with a walk. Whitman was also hit by pitch in his first two trips to the plate. Junior Eitan Maoz collected a pair of hits as well, driving in a run and scoring twice to highlight a 2-for-5 day at the plate.

Mars Hill got multi-hit days from four different players, but hitless performances from five others as well. Dalton Hardee drove in both of the visitors runs on a team-best 3-for-4 tally.

Willis (1-2), whose last start came in the midst of a league series against USC Aiken in April of 2009, struck out five and scattered four hits across three innings of work to grab the win in a pre-determined pitching rotation. Five other pitchers saw time for the Braves on the hill as well. Ben Hunt (0-1) yielded 10 hits and eight runs (six earned) in his first start of the season to saddle the loss for the Lions.

UNCP sent its entire order to the plate in the midst of a four-run first inning, and then pushed its lead out to 6-0 with two more runs in the third. Joe Mangum's two-run double would push the advantage out to 8-0 after five, but Hardee spoiled the shutout in the top of the next frame on a two-run single off of Allen.

The Black and Gold would plate single runs in each of the next three frames to provide the final.

UNCP will close out a nine-game home stand this weekend when it welcomes Peach Belt Conference rival USC Aiken (13-9, 1-5 PBC) to Pembroke for a three-game series at Sammy Cox Field. The clubs will open up the weekend with a 1 p.m. doubleheader on Saturday before engaging in Sunday's 1 p.m. series finale.