PEMBROKE, N.C. – No. 24 (Collegiate Baseball Newspaper Division II Top 30) University of North Carolina Pembroke used a three-run eighth inning to rally past Flagler College 5-3 in a Peach Belt Conference baseball game Saturday at Sammy Cox Field.

UNC Pembroke won its fourth game in a row and improved to 32-12 overall and 13-12 in the Peach Belt. Flagler dropped to 29-17 overall and 15-11 in conference play.

The Saints held a 3-2 lead going into the bottom of the eighth thanks to Jason Moore's fielder's choice in the seventh inning, which scored an unearned run.

Flagler's closer, Ethan Jones (5-2) came in to start the eighth inning. He hit the first batter he faced and then gave up a double to Luke Jackson. Sam Hartings followed with a two-run double to right-center to give the Braves a 4-3 lead. He moved to third on a ground out and then scored on a wild pitch.

The Saints went down in order in the top of the ninth, all three struck out looking.

Gunner Deal (6-2) earned the win in relief for UNC Pembroke. He tossed 2 2/3 scoreless innings and fanned three batters.

Jackson went 3-for-4 with a double, a run scored and one run batted in. Hartings hit two doubles, scored a run and drove in two. Roberto Rivera went 2-for-5 with a double.

Jones took the loss after lasting one-third of an inning. He allowed three runs on three hits with one walk and a wild pitch. Louis Pugliese started and tossed seven innings. He scattered nine hits, allowed two runs and fanned five.

Steven DiPuglia collected a pair of single for the Saints. Sean Lawlor and Ethan Crout each belted a solo home run.

The two teams will meet in the rubber game tomorrow at 1 p.m.