Associated Press
RALEIGH ó Matt Payneís run-scoring infield single in the seventh inning lifted North Carolina State to a 2-1 victory against South Carolina in the Raleigh regional championship.
The Wolfpack (41-20) claimed the third regional title in school history and first since they claimed their 2003 regional in Wilson. They advance to face the champion of the regional in Athens, Ga. ó either Georgia or Georgia Tech ó in next weekendís best-of-three super regional series.
N.C. State broke a 1-all tie in the seventh. Chris Schaeffer and Drew Martin hit one-out singles and Ryan Pond walked to load the bases. Matt Payne hit a grounder deep into the hole at shortstop, and when Reese Havens couldnít make a play, Schaeffer scored the go-ahead run.
S. Carolina 7, James Madison 5
RALEIGH ó Reese Havensí two-run homer in the bottom of the ninth inning helped South Carolina eliminate James Madison.
Conway Regional
Coastal Carolina 24, ECU 11
CONWAY, S.C. ó Coastal Carolina scored 13 runs in the second inning and overwhelmed East Carolina to win the NCAA Conway regional.
The Chanticleers (50-12) earned the schoolís first berth to the super regionals and will travel to UNC next weekend for the best-of-three series.
The 13 runs scored by Coastal Carolina in the second inning were the second most ever scored in a single frame in Division I postseason history.
East Carolina 16, Alabama 1
CONWAY, S.C. ó East Carolina starting pitcher Justin Bristow allowed one run over seven innings to lead the Pirates past Alabama in an elimination game.
Cary Regional
UNC 7, UNC Wilmington 3
CARY ó Mark Fleuryís three-run homer capped a five-run fifth inning and helped North Carolina win the Cary Regional championship.
Tim Fedroff drove in two runs, and he and Tim Federowicz had RBI singles during the big inning that sent the top-seeded Tar Heels (49-12) into the super regionals for the third straight year ó but not before enduring a weather delay of 1 hour, 44 minutes.
Next up: the Conway, S.C., regional champ Coastal Carolina next weekend at USA Baseballís national training complex in suburban Raleigh.
The Seahawks (44-17-1) advanced to the championship round earlier in the day by rallying past Elon 15-11.
UNC Wilmington 15, Elon 11
CARY ó Shane Frenchís bases-loaded double highlighted an 11-run ninth inning that helped North Carolina-Wilmington rally from a seven-run deficit. Bobby Leeper finished with three RBIs for the Seahawks, who trailed 11-4 after eight innings.