GREENVILLE, S.C. (Interstat) — Davis Wright threw five innings of scoreless relief to lift Western Carolina to a 4-3 victory over UNC Greensboro on Thursday night at Fluor Field at the West End.

The Catamounts improved to 36-22, while the Spartans fell to 23-33.

Western Carolina starter James Fordham struggled early, allowing three runs in the top of the first. UNC Greensboro’s Mitchell Holland led off with a ground-rule double to right field. Two outs later, Jacob Budzik crushed a two-run home run to left center, his 11th of the season, scoring Holland and giving the Spartans a 3-0 lead.

The Catamounts answered in the bottom of the second when Wyatt Stanley launched a solo home run to left center, his 11th of the year, cutting the deficit to 3-1. An error by shortstop Ethan Brittain put Jaylen Jones on base, but a double play erased the threat.

UNC Greensboro starter Hunter Shuey dominated through four innings, allowing no hits while striking out five. He carried a no-hitter into the fifth, but Western Carolina tied the game without a hit. Jones led off the fifth with a solo homer to left center, his fifth of the season, making it 3-2. After a foul out, a throwing error by third baseman Budzik put a runner on. A wild pitch moved the runner to second, and then another error by Holland allowed a run to score, knotting the game at 3-3. Shuey struck out two to escape the inning.

Shuey continued to pitch brilliantly, finishing with eight innings of no-hit ball, but he allowed three earned runs and eight strikeouts. The no-hitter was spoiled only by the lack of hits allowed, though walks and errors cost him.

Wright entered in the fifth after Fordham was lifted. The right-hander scattered three hits over five innings, striking out four and allowing no earned runs. He retired nine of the first 10 batters he faced.

The game remained tied until the bottom of the eighth. With one out, Lyda walked. After a flyout, Trent Turner doubled to left field, driving in Lyda from first base to give Western Carolina a 4-3 lead. Turner advanced to third on the throw. Two strikeouts ended the inning.

UNC Greensboro went quietly in the ninth. Parsons struck out swinging, Brittain fouled out, and Holland struck out swinging to end the game.

Budzik finished 1 for 4 with a home run and two RBIs for the Spartans. Holland had the only other extra-base hit for UNC Greensboro. Western Carolina managed only three hits in the game, but made them count: Stanley’s homer, Jones’ homer and Turner’s go-ahead double.

Shane Huntsberger and Fordham also pitched for Western Carolina. Huntsberger faced one batter, striking him out. Fordham allowed three earned runs on three hits over 3 2/3 innings.

The Catamounts won despite being outhit 6-3. The Spartans left seven runners on base and committed three errors, two by Brittain and one by Budzik.

Western Carolina’s win gave it a 3-1 series advantage over the Spartans in the season series. UNC Greensboro had taken the first game of the four-game set on May 14, but the Catamounts won the next two.

Interstat’s ELO system had projected Western Carolina with a 54.90 percent probability to win the game.