Hoping to be drafted in the Major League  Baseball Amateur Draft, the Sun Devils' junior waited for three days and 50 rounds to learn he was not on the radar of any big league team.

With a chip on his shoulder, the left-hander decided to take out his frustrations on pitchers in Omaha, Neb., as Calhoun helped rally Arizona State from a four-run deficit to a 12-5 triumph over North Carolina on Thursday.

With the victory, the Sun Devils eliminated the Tar Heels and are one of four teams remaining in the College World Series. Arizona State meets top-ranked and undefeated Texas on Friday at 7 p.m. The Sun Devils have to beat the Longhorns twice in order to advance to the best-of-three championship series.

In the other bracket, undefeated Louisiana State entertains fellow Southeastern Conference rival Arkansas at 2 p.m. The Razorbacks have to beat the Tigers twice in order to advance.

In Arizona State's game against North Carolina, Calhoun went 2-for-3 with a pair of runs scored and six RBI. He also was a triple shy of hitting for the cycle, as he was a cog in ending the Tar Heels' season.

During last Sunday's College World Series opener, Calhoun, facing Heels' reliever Brian Moran, who was drafted in the fourth round of this year's draft by the New York Yankees, provided the knockout punch with a three-run home run in the 10th inning of a 5-2 victory.

Four days later, Calhoun did it again. 

With the Heels leading 4-0 in the bottom of the fifth inning, the Sun Devils got on the scoreboard thanks to a grand slam by Calhoun, who deposited a fastball from Moran into the right field bleachers.

Calhoun's blast, the third of the College World Series, tied the game. However, his biggest hit came two innings later when the Devils blew the game open with an eight-run seventh inning.

Calhoun started the scoring in the pivotal frame by hitting a two-run double in the gap in right-center field to score jason Kipnis, who singled and Carlos Ramirez, who walked. Calhoun's double off reliever Patrick Johnson gave Arizona State a 6-4 lead. It would only get worse for the Tar Heels, who were making their fourth straight College World Series appearance.

Not only was Calhoun's hitting pivotal for the Sun Devils, but North Carolina's inability to throw strikes also paved the way for Arizona State to move into the final four of the double-elimination tournament.

Tar Heel pitchers combined for 10 walks and four hit batters. Six of those came around to score, including four in the eight-run seventh inning.

The seventh inning looked more like a little league game rather than the College World Series, as the Sun Devils scored eight runs on five hits. They took advantage of four walks and a hit batter.

At one point, the Tar Heels walked three straight batters to force in a run. Zack MacPhee and Drew Maggi followed with back-to-back, two-RBI singles to blow the game open.

Trailing 12-4, the Heels, who had seven players drafted, pushed across a run, as Dustin Ackley, this year's No. 2 overall draft pick, singled to right field in what is probably the final at-bat of his college career.

It was a record 28th career hit of the College World Series for the top draft pick of the Seattle Mariners. He came around to score on a double by Carolina third baseman Kyle Seager, who was drafted in the third-round by the Mariners.

Carolina's final three batters were retired, ending the fourth-ranked Tar Heels fourth straight College World Series appearance. The Heels have never won a national championship in baseball.

The Sun Devils are four wins away for claiming the program's sixth national championship. Arizona State has not won the College World Series since 1981. 

Stranding 11 runners on base and committing three errors, the Tar Heels fell 5-2 in 10 innings to No. 5 Arizona State (50-12) in the opening round of pool play at the College World Series in Omaha, Neb. It was the first time in 20 years that North Carolina (47-17) has lost its opening game of the tournament.

The Heels struck out 13 times against Arizona State's southpaw duo, starter Josh Spence, and Mitchell Lambson, who picked up the win in relief.

The Heels, one loss away from seeing their season end, play Southern Mississippi on Tuesday at 2 p.m. in an elimination game. The Golden Eagles suffered a 7-6 loss to top-ranked Texas on Sunday.

With the wind blowing in for much of the game Sunday, runs were a premium, as North Carolina's ace Alex White and Spence matched one another pitch for pitch. However, neither would figure into the decision.

White, drafted 15th overall by the Cleveland Indians, went nine innings, scattering seven hits and allowed a run. He also matched his career-high with 12 strikeouts.

Spence, who was drafted in the third round by the Los Angeles Angels, got the starting nod against the Heels over righthander Mike Leake, and struck out eight over seven innings of work.

He also scattered eight hits and managed to pitch his way out of jams. 

Having allowed consecutive singles up the middle in the first inning, Spence got Ryan Graepel and Levi Michael to ground out to shortstop to end the threat.

In the fourth inning, the Heels loaded the bases with two outs, but Spence got Ben Bunting to strike out.

Not only did the Heels' offense fell them, they also were shaky with the glove. Having committed two errors without suffering any damage, Carolina's luck ran out in a four-run top of the 10th inning.

With a runner on base and one out, the Sun Devils' Jason Kipnis lifted a ball into right field that Carolina's Garrett Gore lost in the sun. With runners on first and second, Carlos Ramirez drove a Brian Moran pitch to center field to break the 1-1 tie.

Kole Calhoun followed with a three-run homer into left field to blow the game open and send the Heels into the loser's bracket.

The Heels were not the only seeded team to suffer a loss in their opener. No. 2 Cal State Fullerton lost 10-6 to Arkansas on Saturday and was fighting for its tournament survival Monday against Virginia.

The Heels, who have lost two straight games at Rosenblatt Stadium, will look to senior Adam Warren to toe the rubber against Southern Miss. Warren, drafted in the fourth round by the New York Yankees, has gone undefeated during the NCAA tournament.

Warren, the Heels' No. 2 pitcher, will try to help Carolina avoid their first two-and-out College World Series appearance in two decades.

In the winner's bracket of pool play, the Devils will send Leake up against Texas at 8 p.m.

While Dustin Ackley and Alex White were working out and going to class, their future teammate was going to student council meetings and attending Fellowship of Christian Athlete meetings at North Davidson High School in Lexington, N.C.

A starter since his freshman year, Michael could play nearly every position on the field for the Black Knights and head coach Mike Meadows. He was a three-time all-conference player and was named to the all-state as a junior.

With little to prove playing against teams like Mount Tabor, West Forsyth and RJ Reynolds high schools, Michael came to a decision last fall that has made all the difference in the world for the young freshman and the Tar Heels.

Instead of goofing off with friends and playing his senior year with the Knights, Michael elected to enroll early at North Carolina, earned the starting job at second base, and was named to the Louisville Slugger Freshman All-America Team.

Not bad for a guy who missed his high school graduation Friday.

Instead of walking with his class, Michael, who has started all but one game at second base for the Heels, was with the rest of the Tar Heels, in a hotel in Omaha, Neb. The Heels are preparing for the their College World Series opener against No. 5 Arizona State, slated for Sunday at 2 p.m.

It is the fourth straight time the Tar Heels have reached the College World Series. When Carolina began that streak, Michael had just completed his freshman year of high school.

Now Michael, who took five finals in December and the next day moved into the dorms at Chapel Hill, has made the transition from high school to college ball with relative ease.

Heading into the College World Series, Michael is batting .298 with 13 home runs and 56 RBI. He also is tied for the team lead with four triples. Not bad for a recent high school graduate.

Top-ranked Texas (46-14-1), which was pushed to a third game before dispatching Texas Christian University in the Super Regional, is making its 33rd appearance in the College World Series. It's the Longhorns' fifth trip to Omaha in nine years, but this is the first time since 2005 head coach Augie Garrido has led his squad to the Elite Eight.

On the other side of the bracket is Cal State Fullerton, which is the No. 2 seed in the tournament. The Titans (47-14) are making their fourth trip to Omaha in the last six years.

Fullerton also enters the tournament, which starts Saturday, as one of the hottest teams in the country. The Titans have won nine straight and swept Louisville in the Super Regional. During the postseason, the Titans have outscored their opponents a combined 68-11 in five games.

This is the Titans first trip to Omaha since 2007.  They have not won a game at Rosenblatt Stadium since 2006.

Their path to the championship will more than likely go through Louisiana State, the No. 3 seed. The Tigers (51-16) have won 10 straight, including a sweep of sixth-ranked Rice in the Super Regional.

The Tigers are making back-to-back appearances at the College World Series since 2004. They went 1-2 last year, and LSU's two losses were to North Carolina, which is making its fourth straight trip to Omaha.

The Tar Heels, who used two big sixth innings to dispatch East Carolina 10-1 and 9-3 in last weekend's Super Regional, have had the most wins of any program over the past four years.

However, the Heels (47-16) have fallen short of capturing that allusive national championship. Falling to Oregon State in '06 and '07 in the finals and being eliminated by last year's national champion Fresno State.

The Tar Heels, the first school from the Atlantic Coast Conference to reach the College World Series for four straight years, is the No. 4 seed and tangles with No. 5 Arizona State on Sunday in the marquee matchup of the opening round of the World Series.

The Sun Devils (49-12) are making their 21st overall appearance to the College World Series and their third in the last five years. 

The first-round series also features two of the best players in college baseball. North Carolina first baseman Dustin Ackley and Arizona State's pitcher Mike Leake are both All-Americans and also are finalists for the Golden Spikes Award.

Ackley was selected second overall in the major league baseball draft by Seattle, and Leake was selected eighth overall by the Cincinnati Reds. Leake, who is 16-1 this year, is expected to start against the Heels on Sunday.

One of three teams not seeded but has crashed the College World Series party is No. 16 Arkansas. The Razorbacks (39-22) upset fifth-ranked Florida State when Andrew Darr hit a two-run double in the bottom of the ninth for a 9-8 victory last Saturday in the Super Regional.

The Hogs are making their first appearance in the College World Series since 2004, but they are familiar with the streets of Omaha. Arkansas, which opens against Cal State Fullerton on Saturday at 1 p.m., is making its sixth appearance at the College World Series.

The other two teams, Virginia and Southern Mississippi, are making their inaugural appearance at the College World Series.

However, Virginia head coach Brian O'Connor is a native of Council Bluffs, Iowa, which is a suburb of Omaha. He knows his way around the city and is bringing a confident group of Cavaliers to the tournament.

Having won the ACC tournament, the Cavs (48-13-1) were a loss away from elimination following a 4-3 loss to Mississippi in 12 innings, but Virginia rallied for a 4-3 and a 5-1 win to win the Super Regional.

The Cavs face LSU Saturday at 7 p.m.

Rounding out the field and arguably the biggest long-shot of the tournament is Southern Mississippi (39-24). The Eagles were the No. 3 seed out of four teams at the Atlanta regional.  They managed to sweep Florida 9-7 and 7-6 in the Super Regional in Gainesville.

Not only did the Eagles not expect to be in Omaha, Head Coach Corky Palmer was planning on retiring after this season. He will be putting those plans on hold for a few days, as the Eagles open the tournament against No. 1 Texas on Sunday at 6 p.m.

The junior is focused on getting the Tar Heels to their fourth straight trip to Omaha, NE and the College World Series. White proved that Saturday, as he shut down the explosive East Carolina offense during the Heels' 10-1 romp in the opening game of a best-of-three Super Regional played at Bryson Field at Boshamer Stadium in Chapel Hill.

The Heels can punch their ticket to Omaha with a victory Sunday over the Pirates.

Although White was not dominating, falling behind hitters early, scattering nine hits and giving up a solo home run to Brandon Henderson that bounced off the light pole in left field to lead off the second inning, the right-hander recorded a career-high 12 strikeouts in eight-and-one-third innings, closing out what is probably his final start at newly remodeled Boshamer Stadium.

Facing a Pirates crew batting a collective .341 with all nine players in the starting lineup batting over .300, White struggled with his off-speed pitches and relied on his fastball to get out of jams.

Trailing 1-0 with runners on the corners with two outs in the third inning, White struck out Henderson to escape any further damage.

In the next frame, after the Heels scored two runs, White gave up a single to David Harris, who stole second base. However, the Heels' future millionaire struck out the next three batters, including two looking, to preserve the lead.

White, who eclipsed the 300-career strikeout mark, retired the Pirates in order for the first time in the fifth inning, and got out of a jam after giving up back-to-back singles to lead off the sixth stanza.

In the bottom of the frame, the Heels' bats came alive, as they scored seven runs to blast the game open.

The first six reached base and all came around to score. Highlighting the inning was a two-run single by senior Garret Gore and a two-run single by freshman Levi Michael to cap the scoring.

White, who had struggled with blisters on his pitching hand and a hamstring injury, had not won a decision since beating Maryland on April 24. He ended his outing Saturday by striking out Drew Schieber for the record-setting strikeout for the first out of the ninth inning.

White gave way to Nate Striz, who fanned the final two batters to end the game and move the Heels a win away from a return to Omaha.

It also ended years of frustration, such as the 2008 final four loss to Kansas or the overtime setback to Georgetown in 2007.

While all of Chapel Hill were celebrating the championship brought home by Tyler and the boys, the baseball team was all business.

The No. 2 Tar Heels, who opened the season at No. 1 just like their basketball mates, had taken two of three at Georgia Tech over the weekend and were playing host to East Carolina the next day.

It's those same Pirates who Carolina will play host to in the best-of-three Super Regional, that begins Saturday at noon at Boshamer Stadium. The winner of the series punches a ticket to the College World Series in Omaha, Neb.

The Tar Heels are two wins away from their fourth straight trip to Rosenblatt Stadium for the eight-team, double-elimination tournament.

Much like their basketball brothers, the diamond Heels have suffered heartbreak over the years. A favorite to win in 2006, Carolina won its first four games only to lose consecutive games in the best-of-three championship to Oregon State.

A year later, the Heels once again reached the finals at Rosenblatt Stadium where they once again were defeated by the Beavers, who went undefeated in winning their second straight College World Series.

Last year the Heels came up short again, as Fresno State eliminated Carolina en route to becoming the lowest-seeded club to win the College World Series.

Much like Hansbrough and his teammates, baseball senior pitcher Adam Warren, junior standouts Dustin Ackley, Kyle Seager and Alex White are looking to close their careers in much the same way—a win to end the season and a celebration on Franklin Street in Chapel Hill.

The diamond Heels not only have a similar history as the basketball team, they also have similar personnel.

Head basketball coach Roy Williams had a four-time All-American in Hansbrough, who averaged averaged 20.3 points and 8.6 rebounds during his college career. He also was expected to be an early NBA draft pick, but he elected to come back for his senior season. Hansbrough also was named a player of the year.

Baseball coach Mike Fox has Ackley, a three-time All-American, who is a finalist this year for the Golden Spikes Award, given to the top college baseball player. Ackley, the first three-time All-American in Carolina baseball history, leads the Atlantic Coast Conference with 101 hits and 21 home runs. He also set a North Carolina career hits mark with 329. Ackley is expected to go in the top five in this year's amateur draft.

Another slugger in Fox's lineup is Seager, who has had a stellar season for the Heels, following an All-American performance as a sophomore. He is much like Ellington. Both are offensive threats, who puts up strong numbers but are overshadowed by other players in the lineup like Hansbrough or Ackley.

The success of any basketball team depends on a point guard. The Heels had one in Lawson, who is expected to be a first-round draft pick in the NBA.

A baseball team's success depends on its pitching, and the Heels have an ace in Warren, a senior who has developed into one of the top pitchers in the ACC. Warren, much like Lawson, has been a leader for the pitching rotation. The senior leads the Heels with an 8-2 record and has a 3.19 ERA.

Another pitcher for Fox is White, who has gotten a great deal of publicity and is expected to be highly drafted. White leads the team in strikeouts, but he also has struggled recently, including the ACC tournament.

White is 7-4 with a 4.42 ERA with 97 strikeouts, but he had lost three straight before getting a no-decision against Coastal Carolina in last weekend's regional in a game Carolina won, 14-5.

White's struggles are similar to those of Green on the basketball court at the ACC tournament. Green struggled offensive, however; he provided strong defense and had some big games down the stretch for the Heels.

Williams also never lost faith in Green, continuing to put him in the starting lineup.

It is much like Fox, who announced Tuesday that White would be the starter for Game 1 of the Super Regional.

Another key for a championship team is solid role players. The basketball team had Bobby Frasor, who had battled injuries during his college career. He lost his starting job but instead of being a malcontent, Frasor proved to be a consummate team player. He came off the bench and cracked the starting lineup when Lawson went down with the toe injury during the ACC tournament.

He also was considered the team comedian, always making jokes and keeping the team loose.

Frasor has the same characteristics as fellow senior Garrett Gore. Gore was a starter for Fox since cracking the lineup in the '06 NCAA tournament. He had started at shortstop and second base, but this year lost his starting spot at second base to freshman Levi Michael.

Instead of sulking on the bench, Gore volunteered to play anywhere he was needed. The Carolina senior moved to right field and has batted .298 with five home runs and 40 RBI. He also has developed into a solid defensive outfielder. He even has been known to dance to the music over the loud speaker in between innings to help entertain the crowd.

Not only do the two teams have similar players, the coaches also are similar. Williams and Fox are both Carolina men. Williams graduated from Carolina in '72. He also is a North Carolina native, who played basketball and baseball in high school. Williams also is a regular in the stands at Rosenblatt Stadium.

Fox, like Williams is a native of Asheville, N.C., and graduated from UNC in '78. Fox also played on the Heels' JV basketball team as well as on the baseball team.

Fox now tries to duplicate what his colleague and fellow North Carolinian Williams did two months ago—win a national championship.

Boston College closed out its pool play schedule with a 10-1 victory over 23rd-ranked Miami, and Duke stayed alive in pool play with a 10-4 upset of 13th-ranked Clemson, which was eliminated with its second loss of the tournament.

In the nightcap, No. 16 Virginia pulled off arguably the biggest upset, embarrassing sixth-ranked North Carolina 11-1 in eight innings.

The Cavaliers’ victory creates a logjam of three teams still in contention to meet Florida State in Sunday’s championship game.

With Friday’s wins, Virginia took over first place with a 2-0 record in the pool. Duke evened its pool record at 1-1 and is tied with the Tar Heels for second place, heading into the final day of pool play.

The Cavaliers, who erupted for the biggest offensive inning of the tournament, control their own destiny and have the inside track of reaching the championship game for the second year in a row.

If Virginia defeats Duke in Saturday’s nightcap, the Cavaliers move on to the title game.

Despite Friday’s rout, the Tar Heels still have a chance to reach the championship game. North Carolina plays Clemson at 4 p.m. and will need a victory. The Tar Heels also need the Blue Devils, who are trying to earn a berth in the NCAA tournament for the first time in 47 years, to defeat Virginia in order to advance to Sunday’s final.

A North Carolina loss, and a Blue Devil win propels the Blue Devils, who are participating in their first ACC tournament since 2005, to the title game.

However, the Blue Devils will have their hands full, as the Cavaliers handed North Carolina its worst loss of the season.

Keying the victory for the Cavaliers was the third inning where Virginia sent 15 batters to the plate and scored 10 runs.

North Carolina starting pitcher Alex White retired the first six batters he faced and recorded four strikeouts.

However, the third frame was a different story.

Eight of the first nine batters came around to score to blow the game open.

Tyler Cannon doubled and scored on a bloop single to center field by Franco Valdes, who scored twice in the inning.

After John Barr flied out for the first out, Jarrett Parker, Phil Gosselin and John Hicks hit consecutive seeing-eye singles. Dan Grovatt was walked to force in a run, and Steven Proscia singled to shallow right field for a 4-0 lead.

Danny Hultzen, who was the winning pitcher, walked to force in another run and ended White’s day. White lasted 2 1/3 innings for his shortest outing of the season.

Relief pitcher Brian Moran was unable to get out of the jam.  After striking out the first batter he faced, Moran gave up an RBI walk to Valdes. Barr followed with a two-run single to push the lead to 8-0. Parker blooped an RBI single, scoring Valdes, and Gosselin capped the inning with a single to shallow left field, scoring Barr.

Carolina’s lone offense was a home run by freshman Levi Michael in the top of the fifth inning.

Virginia ended the game with two outs in the eighth inning when Carolina reliever Nate Striz walked Scott Silverstein with the bases loaded to score a run and invoke the 10-run mercy rule.

The Cavaliers will face a Duke squad that had a big inning of its own to knock off Clemson.

The Blue Devils pushed across six runs in the bottom of the sixth inning to blow a tight 2-1 game open to 8-1.

Providing the biggest spark was Duke First baseman Nate Freiman, who opened the pivotal sixth inning with a solo home run. It was his team-record 20th home run of the season. He also went 3-for-4 with two runs scored.

Jeremy Gould, who was 2-for-4 with two runs scored, singled and scored on Jake Lemmerman’s triple. Lemmerman, who went 3-for-4 with a pair of runs scored and three RBI, came home on a wild pitch off Clemson starter Chris Dwyer to push the lead to 5-1.

After walking Will Piwnica-Worms, Dwyer was relieved by Clinton McKinney, who was unable to pitch out of the jam.

The senior right-hander retired the first batter he faced, but walked Gabriel Saade. Ryan McCurdy followed with a double down the left field line to score Piwnica-Worms. Alex Hassan followed with a two-run single up the middle to cap the scoring.

Duke added a pair of insurance runs in the seventh inning and was a hit away from invoking the 10-run rule, but the Tigers ended the threat with a double play and added three runs in the eighth inning to end Duke starter Andrew Wolcott’s day.

The Duke senior right-hander scattered nine hits over 7 1/3 innings of work to earn the victory.

In Friday’s opener, the Hurricanes had nothing to play for, but Boston College, seeded eighth coming into the tournament, solidified its resume with the NCAA selection committee by going 2-1 in pool play.

The Eagles, whose lone loss was to Florida State, pounded 12 hits in the rout of 23rd-ranked Miami.

Sparking the offense Friday was shortstop Barry Butera, who went 3-for-5 with a pair of runs scored. He was one of three Eagles to enjoy a mult-hit game against the Hurricanes.

The Eagles jumped on Miami starting pitcher Iden Nazzario with a four-run second inning. Robbie Anston capped the inning with a two-run single.

Boston College added three runs in the fifth inning and the seventh to put away the Hurricanes.

Pat Dean earned the win for the Eagles, scattering eight hits in seven innings of work.

Miami’s lone run came on an RBI single by Scott Lawson that scored Dave DiNatale in the seventh inning. DiNatale opened the frame with a double.

The last time Boston College played in the NCAA baseball tournament, Lyndon Johnson was in the White House.

However, third baseman Mickey Wiswall may have helped the Eagles end that 42-year old streak by leading BC to a 7-3 victory over 14th-ranked Georgia Tech Thursday on the second day of the Atlantic Coast Conference baseball tournament in Durham, N.C.

It was a day of upsets, as Boston College set the tone with its victory. In the nightcap, third-seeded Clemson fell 6-5 to Virginia. Florida State was the only favorite to win, as the Seminoles edged Miami 4-2 to become the first team of the tournament to improve to 2-0.

Having beaten Miami (1-1) and Boston College (1-1), the Seminoles, who are off Friday, have already clinched their pool and will be in the championship game.

However, arguably the biggest surprise was Boston College’s victory.

With both teams staring at elimination after losing their tournament opener, Wiswall sparked the Eagles offense, going 3-for-4 with a pair of home runs and five RBI.

Wiswall and the Eagles jumped on Tech starting pitcher Jed Bradley in the first inning.

Bradley hit Robbie Anston to lead off the game and committed an error on a bunt by Matt Hamlet. The Tech freshman made matters worse with a walk to Tony Sanchez to load the bases and set up Wiswall’s first hit.

The Boston College sophomore slapped a two-run single center field to get the Eagles on the board.

In his next at-bat, the Eagles’ third baseman blasted a Bradley pitch into the seats in right field for a two-run home run and a commanding, 4-0 advantage.

Wiswall’s final hit was a solo home run over the 32-foot Blue Monster wall in left field in the bottom of the fifth inning.

Wiswall’s final home run helped to curb a Tech comeback, as the Jackets got back in the game with three runs in the top of the fifth frame.

Boston College starting pitcher JB MacDonald had allowed one hit through the first four innings, but he ran into trouble.

MacDonald gave up a leadoff home run to Chase Burnette for the first run. Jason Haniger doubled, moved to third base on a single by Matt Skole and scored on a fielder’s choice. Tech capped the scoring with a sacrifice fly by Jeff Rowland that scored Chris House, cutting the lead to 4-3.

It would be the last run scored by the Jackets, who have lost four straight conference games heading into Saturday’s game against Florida State.

Against the Boston College bullpen of Kevin Moran and closer Mike Belfiore, who combined to pitch the final four innings, Tech managed two hits, a double by Tony Plagman in the sixth inning and a single by House in the seventh.

The bullpen retired the final eight batters.

Belfiore pitched a perfect ninth, striking out two to earn the save.

Boston College improved its overall record to 32-24 and closes pool play Friday against Miami, which fell behind early to Florida State and was never able to catch up.

The Seminoles jumped on Miami and pitcher Chris Hernandez in the first inning.

Hernandez, who had never lost to Florida State, gave up all the runs in the first frame.

Tyler Holt opened with a single and scored on a double off the Blue Monster by Stephen Cardullo. Mike McGee followed with an RBI double, and the Seminoles were leading 2-0 before the Hurricanes were able to record an out.

Designated hitter Tommy Oravetz capped the scoring with a two-run homer with two outs, and the Seminoles were up, 4-0.

It was all the pitching staff needed, as Brian Busch scattered four hits over the first six innings to earn the win. Relievers Geoff Parker, John Gast and Jimmy Marshall did not allow a hit in the final three innings to secure the victory.

While the Seminoles have already won their bracket, Virginia and Clemson opened their tournament Thursday with the No. 16 Cavaliers rallying from a four-run deficit to defeat the 13th-ranked Tigers thanks to a big fifth inning.

After Virginia got back into the game, thanks to a two-run homer by John Hicks off Clemson starting pitcher Trey Delk in the bottom of the fourth inning, the Cavaliers broke the game open in the fifth.

Trailing 5-2, Virginia, which won four of six to close the regular season, rallied thanks to a couple of Clemson defensive miscues.

Virginia’s Jarrett Parker opened the frame with a home run to left field. Danny Hultzen, who was 2-for-4, reached on an infield single. He stole second base and advanced to third base on a throwing error. He scored when Dan Grovatt, who also was 2-for-4, singled.

With the score 5-4, Virginia took the lead when Steven Proscia tripled off relief pitcher Scott Weismann.

 Clemson shortstop Brad Miller threw home to get Grovatt, but the throw was high. Grovatt tied the game, and Proscia scored on the throwing error. It proved to be the game-winning run, as the Cavalier bullpen shut down the Tigers.

Andrew Carraway, who came on in relief of starter Matt Packer in the fourth inning, struck out seven and allowed one hit in 4 1/3 innings of relief.

He picked up the victory, and Kevin Arico struck out one and pitched a perfect ninth inning to earn the save.

The Cavaliers meet North Carolina on Friday at 8 p.m. The winner has the inside track of winning the pool and earning a spot in Sunday’s championship game. 

Clemson and Duke square off in an elimination game at 4 p.m.

On the opening day of the Atlantic Coast Conference tournament, the top team won, the top pitcher was run out of the game by a disastrous inning and the league's best hitter proved why he had garnered ACC Player of the Year award.

In arguably the best of the three games played Wednesday at Durham Bulls Athletic Park in Durham, the defending tournament champion Miami Hurricanes sent 13 batters to the plate in the sixth inning to defeat Georgia Tech, 8-6.

The Yellow Jackets, who were eyeing a No. 1 seed before losing two of three at Duke to close the regular season, have now lost three in a row heading into Friday's must-win game with Boston College.

The Eagles dropped a 7-2 decision to Florida State, the top-seeded team in the tournament.

In Wednesday's nightcap, sixth-ranked North Carolina used a two-home run performance from reigning ACC Player of the Year Dustin Ackley to knock off rival Duke, 8-3. 

North Carolina, which edged Georgia Tech to win the regular season title in the Coastal Division, is off until Friday when the Tar Heels play Virginia at 8 p.m.

For Georgia Tech, which came into the tournament leading the nation in home runs, the loss to Miami was frustrating. The Jackets led until the sixth inning, but they left 13 on base and a comeback against Miami fell short.

It also didn't help the that ACC Pitcher of the Year Deck McGuire, who was undefeated heading into Wednesday's game, fell apart in the sixth inning.

The sophomore, who boasted a 10-0 regular season record, walked the leadoff batter before retiring the next 10 in a row.

He had a no-hitter going until the sixth inning when Jason Hagerty doubled to right field with one out. It was the beginning of the end for McGuire, who owned a 2-1 lead heading into the pivotal sixth inning.

Five of the next six Miami batters would reach base.

The lone out was a sacrifice fly by Nathan Melendres that gave the Hurricanes a 6-2 lead. The Canes would add two more runs in the frame, which was capped by an RBI double from Hagerty.

Tech began to chip away at the lead, as Tony Plagman took advantage of a two-out error in the bottom of the sixth inning for a two-run double to cut the Miami advantage to 8-4.

In the seventh inning, Jeff Rowland slapped a two-out single to center field that plated two runs and cut the lead to 8-6.

However, that was the end of the comeback, as Miami closer Kyle Bellamy, who leads the conference in saves, pitched the final two innings to shut down the Jackets.

Bellamy gave up a single and a walk to open the ninth inning, but he managed to get out of the jam and record his 16th save of the year.

The Miami wins sets up a rematch with Florida State, which lost two of three against the Hurricanes in early April in Coral Gables, Fla.

Sparking the Seminoles to their win over Boston College were Mike McGee and Jason Stidham, as both drove in two RBI apiece. McGee also scored three runs, and Stephen Cardullo also had two hits and scored twice.

The winner of Friday's Florida State/Miami game, which begins at 4 p.m., will be undefeated in pool play and have the inside track of earning a spot in Sunday's title game.

The Duke and North Carolina game was the lone contest in the other pool, which features Clemson and Virginia. Both those teams had the day off.

While Ackley provided the offense going 3-for-5 with two home runs and four RBI, pitcher Adam Warren held the Blue Devils silent for most of the game.

The senior, who had struggled toward the end of the regular season, had a five-hitter going into the ninth inning when he was relieved by Colin Bates.

Warren also got some assistance in the sixth inning from freshman second baseman Levi Michael that helped the Tar Heels get out of a jam.

Having allowed the Blue Devils to get on the board thanks to an RBI single by Matt Williams, who drove home Alex Hassan, who opened the inning with a double, Warren faced the conference's leading home-run hitter, Nate Freiman.

Freiman hit a blooper into center field for an apparent hit, but Michael made a diving catch for the out. Williams, who broke for second base, was doubled off first base, and Warren managed to get out of the inning.

Ackley hit a two-run home run to right field in the bottom of the sixth inning, and Kyle Seager, who went 3-for-3 and reached base on all five at-bats added an RBI double in the eighth inning to provide insurance.

Duke must win its remaining two pool games and hope the Tar Heels lose both games in order to reach the championship game. 

Clemson and Virginia open tournament play Friday at 8 p.m.

The winner will be tied with North Carolina for first place and will remain on track for the championship game. The loser falls into a tie with Duke for last place in the pool.

The tournament called the Baseball Grounds of Jacksonville home since 2006, and this year's tournament was originally slated for historic Fenway Park in Boston.

But seeing as how the Red Sox are playing host to the Toronto Blue Jays through Thursday and have a weekend series with the New York Mets, the ACC was without a weekend home until the Bulls stepped up to provide a venue.

The proximity also couldn't have been better for the ACC, who would have no doubt played in front a lot of empty seats in the 36,000-plus seat Stadium. DBAP seats 10,000, and considering Duke and North Carolina are in the tournament, good crowds should be expected for the tournament.

However, it is time for the ACC to do away with its pool-play format and go strictly a double-elimination tournament similar to the College World Series.

Florida State (40-14 overall, 19-9 in ACC) won the Atlantic Division and has the overall best record in the league. North Carolina (41-14, 19-10) won the Coastal Division on the final day of the regular season and earned the No. 2 seed and lead the two pools.

Florida State, which opens the tournament against Boston College (31-23, 13-15) at 4 p.m. today, is in the same pool with Georgia Tech (34-15-1, 17-10-1) and Miami (35-18, 18-12).

The Tar Heels, who have reached the College World Series three straight years losing each time in the championship game, begin their march to Omaha, Neb., today at 8 p.m. against rival Duke (34-22, 15-15). The Blue Devils, the No. 7 seed, took two of three from the Tar Heels in mid March in Chapel Hill.

The other two teams in North Carolina's pool are Clemson (39-17, 19-11) and Virginia (39-12-1, 16-11-1).

The tournament, which kicks off at noon with Georgia Tech entertaining Miami, could be wide open, with six clubs having a legitimate shot at hoisting the tournament championship come Sunday afternoon.

Six of the eight teams enter the tournament ranked by Baseball America. North Carolina is ranked sixth, Florida State is ranked 12th and followed by Clemson (13th), Georgia Tech (14th), Virginia (16th), and Miami (23rd).

Unfortunately, the pool format causes the tournament to lose some of its luster, especially come Saturday when you have the possibilities of two teams already eliminated from the championship just playing out the schedule.

It gives fans the opportunity to see their favorite team play at least three games, but does anyone want to see winless Duke playing a two-loss Virginia squad to avoid a last-place finish in pool play.

Instead Saturday could be the semifinals, where fans get to see a doubleheader of top-ranked teams slugging it out for a spot in Sunday's championship game.

This league lives and dies with basketball. So why not make the tournament similar to the basketball tournament with a double-elimination twist? Like the basketball tournament, every game counted, with teams battling to survive and advance.