By By KEVIN TRAVIS
Sports Editor
CHAPEL HILL — If the No. 14 East Carolina Pirates are going to get to Omaha this year, they’ll have to do something that they haven’t done since 1994 — beat North Carolina on the Tar Heels’ turf. In fact, the Pirates will have to do it twice.
The Pirates (46-18) and Tar Heels (45-16), the No. 4 national seed, begin their best-of-three Super Regionals series today at Boshamer Stadium. First pitch is set for noon and the game will be telecast on ESPNU.
Sunday’s game, also a noon start, will be televised on ESPN. If a third game is necessary, it will be played Monday at either 1 or 7 p.m. and be aired on ESPN or ESPN2.
“It’s going to be intense,” UNC coach Mike Fox said. “It should be a blast. It’s kind of a once-in-a-lifetime thing with two instate (teams) playing for the right to get to the College World Series. I don’t think it gets any better than this.”
PITCHING ROTATION
ECU sophomore Seth Maness (9-4, 4.41 ERA) will get the start in today’s opener
“It’s a big start; that’s a fact, but I’m just going to go out there and try to throw strikes,” Maness said.
“It’s a big game and it’s going to be a great atmosphere. I’m excited about it.
“They have a good team. They’ve been ranked in the top 10 the whole year. I just have to take it one pitch at a time, one at-bat at a time. I just have to relax and have a good time.”
 The Tar Heels will counter with junior Alex White (7-4, 4.42 ERA), a former D.H. Conley standout who is expected to be a first-round selection in the upcoming Major League Baseball draft.
“They have a lot of great hitters,” White said about the Pirates. “They have speed with Trent Whitehead at the top, power with Kyle Roller and pieces that go with that. They’re a great hitting lineup and we’re going to have our hands full as a pitching staff.”
On Sunday, freshman Kevin Brandt (9-1, 3.52 ERA) will start for the Pirates. Senior Adam Warren (8-2, 3.19 ERA), a former star at New Bern, will get the nod for the Heels.
“We have to go over there and win two games,” ECU coach Billy Godwin said about his selection of starters. “I think it’s about who is the most ready.”
HISTORY
The Pirates and Tar Heels each won at their home park this season. North Carolina took a 3-1 victory on April 7 in Chapel Hill, while ECU snapped a nine-game skid against the Tar Heels with a 4-0 nod on April 22 in Greenville.
Notching that win over the Heels, who hold a 44-25 series lead, could be pivotal this weekend.
“I think it helps,” Godwin said. “Any time you beat somebody, it proves you can beat them.
“But, we’re on their turf and they’ve been to Omaha three times (in a row). I think we’re certainly the underdog.”
The Pirates are seeking their first win in Chapel Hill since a 7-5 victory on April 27, 1994.
UNC holds a 4-1 edge over ECU in NCAA Tournament play, which includes an 11-10 victory during the 2007 Chapel Hill Regional.
TOURNEY EXPERIENCE
While this is ECU’s third trip to the Super Regionals, the Pirates are still looking for their first win. They lost 5-3 and 4-2 to South Carolina in the 2004 Super Regionals in Columbia, and 6-3 and 13-10 to Tennessee in the 2001 Super Regionals in Kinston.
The Heels have had more postseason success, going 6-3 in four Super Regional appearances. North Carolina had made seven trips to the College World Series, including three straight.
The Heels have placed among the final three teams in Omaha in each of the last three seasons.
The Pirates are fully aware of UNC’s recent success, but that doesn’t intimidate them in the least.
“We’re going in with confidence, but you can’t be over-confident,” senior outfielder Stephen Batts said. “We’re playing at their place and won’t have 8,000 fans screaming like they do for us here.
“We just have to keep a little chip on our shoulder knowing that in a big situation we can get it done.”
ALL-EVERYTHING ACKLEY
Maness, voted an All-American last year, will face a UNC team that is hitting .307 with 65 home runs. Dustin Ackley, a candidate for Player-of-the-Year and likely a top-two pick in the MLB draft, leads the Heels in virtually every category. The junior first baseman/outfielder is hitting a robust .417 with 21 homers, 66 RBIs and 13 stolen bases.
“It’s definitely going to be an exciting weekend,” Ackley said. “The atmosphere is going to be incredible.”
Maness is excited at the chance to square off against Ackley, voted the ACC Player-of-the-Year.
“I see it as a challenge,” Maness said of facing Ackley. “He’s a great player. He’s been leading all these categories and his stats speak for themselves. I just think of it as a fun challenge and it will be a great experience.”
Other top hitters for the Heels are Kyle Seager (.379, 4 HRs, 55 RBIs), Ben Bunting (.336, 2 HRs, 35 RBIs), Mark Fleury (.311, 12 HRs, 58 RBIs), Garrett Gore (.298, 5 HRs, 40 RBIs) and Levi Michael (.293, 13 HRs, 54 RBIs).
ECU’S BIG STICKS
On the other side, White will face an ECU team that is hitting .341 with 105 home runs. Batts, who is hitting .363 with 14 homers and 63 RBIs, said he and his teammates will have to be locked in against the hard-throwing White.
“Alex White is a competitor,” Batts said. “He’ll give his team everything that he has. He’s pitched in Omaha and he has some big wins under his belt.
“We have a great hitting team. I think it’s going to be a good game.”
Ryan Wood, who has clubbed 13 homers and driven in 55 runs, leads the Pirates with a .388 average. Trent Whitehead, ECU’s leadoff batter who is two hits away from setting a new single-season record, is close behind at .384. The former Washington Pam Pack star also has seven homers and 46 RBIs.
Junior designated hitter Kyle Roller, hitting at a .335 clip, leads ECU with 16 homers and 74 RBIs.
Other top hitters are Austin Homan (.342, 19 RBIs), Brandon Henderson (.333, 12 HRs, 54 RBIs), NCAA Greenville Regional hero Devin Harris (.332, 13 HRs, 41 RBIs), Jared Avchen (.327, 2 HRs, 28 RBIs), Dustin Harrington (.319, 14 HRs, 48 RBIs) and Drew Schieber (.310, 8 HRs, 52 RBIs).
“ECU has the ability to score very, very quickly,” Fox said. “They can do it one through nine.”
NEXT STOP: OMAHA
Both teams are itching to get to Omaha. For the Pirates, it would be their first College World Series experience.
“We’re only two wins away from reaching our goal of reaching Omaha,” Roller said. “We’re super excited and we’re motivated. We’ll be ready to play.”
For the Heels, they’ve been their three straight years. Still, shortstop Ryan Graepel, a former standout at J.H. Rose, said his North Carolina team still isn’t satisfied.
“We’ve had a great season so far, but anything less (than Omaha) would probably be a disappointment,” Graepel said. “Even if we do make it back to Omaha, we’re not going to consider things done until we win a national championship.”
2009 NCAA CHAPEL HILL SUPER REGIONAL
At Boshamer Stadium
Saturday, June 6, Noon (ESPNU)
Sunday, June 7, Noon (ESPN)
Monday, June 8, 1 or 7 p.m. (if needed on ESPN or ESPN2)