BOCA RATON, Fla. (Interstat) — Ethan Norby pitched 6 1/3 hitless innings and East Carolina scored five runs in the fifth inning to beat Florida Atlantic 6-1 on Friday night at FAU Baseball Stadium.

Norby remained in control throughout his start, striking out 10 batters while allowing an unearned run. The only blemish came in the third inning when the Owls manufactured their lone run on a single by Kyle Boylston. Norby carried a no-hitter into the seventh inning, departing after a walk and a single with one out. Joseph Webb entered and struck out two batters to strand both runners, preserving the Pirates’ four-run lead.

East Carolina improved to 32-21-1 overall and 20-10 in American Athletic Conference play. Florida Atlantic fell to 28-26-1 and 19-14 in conference action. The Pirates took the series opener, having won the first game of the three-game set 7-5 on Thursday night.

The Pirates erupted for five runs on five hits in the top of the fifth inning, chasing Owls starter Kide Adetuyi and reliever Owen Witmer before settling against Marcus Gilson. Adetuyi had allowed one run over four innings, but after a single by pinch hitter Jaylen Irby and a sacrifice bunt, the Pirates loaded the bases on walks. Colby Wallace delivered the big blow, a two-run single through the left side that scored Irby and Herring. Davin Whitaker followed with an RBI single that scored Burress, and Michael Kalinich knocked in two more runs with a single to right field, scoring Wallace and Whitaker.

East Carolina added an insurance run in the ninth inning when Kalinich doubled to right-center, scoring Burress from first base. Kalinich finished 2-for-3 with two RBIs and a run scored. Wallace went 3-for-5 with two RBIs. Whitaker was 2-for-4 with an RBI. Brayden Bachman drove in a run with a double in the fourth inning.

Florida Atlantic’s Boylston went 2-for-3 with an RBI and a double. The Owls managed only six hits and struck out 13 times.

Norby’s performance was a strong bounce-back from his previous two starts. On May 9 against Rice he allowed five earned runs in 6 2/3 innings, and on May 2 at Memphis he surrendered five earned runs in five innings despite allowing no hits.

The game’s decisive moment came in the fifth inning, when East Carolina batted around after two were out. After Herring and Burress drew walks, Witmer was lifted for Gilson, who surrendered consecutive singles that broke the game open.

Florida Atlantic starter Adetuyi was charged with one earned run on three hits in four innings, striking out two and walking one. Tyler Murphy threw four innings of relief for the Owls, allowing one earned run on four hits.

Rose pitched a perfect seventh inning for East Carolina, striking out one. Webb earned the save with 1 2/3 hitless innings, striking out two.

The Pirates collected 11 hits while the Owls managed six.

Interstat’s game simulator projected a final score of Florida Atlantic 7, East Carolina 5, while Interstat’s ELO system gave East Carolina a 60.90 percent probability to win the game. The series continues Saturday with the second game of the three-game set.