PEMBROKE – Chris Zittrouer hit a solo homer to spark a key four-run fourth inning and visiting Armstrong Atlantic rode a solid relief outing from southpaw Mitchell Dolan to a 7-5 victory over No. 10 UNCP in the series opener on Saturday afternoon at Sammy Cox Field.

The setback was the fourth-straight loss for UNCP (32-12, 16-9 PBC) in the 62-game-old series with Armstrong Atlantic (25-12, 15-9). The result helped the Pirates capture their 1,500th program victory, while also helping skipper Joe Roberts move into a tie for first place among NCAA Division II's all-time winningest coaches.

Jordan Edgerton hit his team-leading eighth home run of the season to highlight a 3-for-5 day at the plate for the Braves, while Chad Whitehead (2-for-4) and Daniel Fraga (2-for-5) each turned in two hits apiece. Zittrouer was one of four players to record multi-hit outings for the Pirates, including Dalton Johnson who doubled once and scored twice on a 3-for-4 performance.

Ethan Carter (9-1) was handed his first loss of the season after allowing five runs (four earned) on eight hits and a walk in just four innings from the hill. Dolan (3-0) struck out two and scattered four hits across 4-1/3 innings of relief to grab the win for the visitors.

A sac fly by Edgerton with one out in the first inning helped the Braves scratch the scoreboard first, but Armstrong used a pair of ill-timed errors by the Braves to plate the game-tying run in the third and then took the lead for good in the clutch fourth inning. The big fourth inning was keyed by three consecutive RBI knocks with two outs on the board.

Edgerton helped the hosts climb to within a run, 5-4, with a leadoff homer in the fifth, but the Pirates scored lone insurance runs in the eighth and ninth innings to seal the outcome.

The squads will close out their weekend set on Sunday with a 1 p.m. doubleheader at Sammy Cox Field. UNCP's three-member Class of 2013 – Carter, Drew Alford and Aubrey Meadows – will be honored in a ceremony prior to first pitch. 

To watch the full game click PART 1 or PART 2.