Tar Heels get another crack at Arizona State
North Carolina rapped out 23 hits to eliminate Southern Mississippi 11-4 and earn the right to play Arizona State Thursday night in the College World Series. (6/16)

The Tar Heels, led by five hits off the bat of All-America Dustin Ackley, delivered 14 two-out base hits and seven two-out RBI. The Heels ended the game one hit away from the World Series record and Ackley, with a chance to tie the record for most hits by a player in a World Series game, flew out to deep left in the ninth inning.

"Everyone saw today what I've seen for three years from Dustin Ackley," UNC coach Mike Fox said. "I'm glad the country had a chance to see what we've seen. And we've needed it. It was a good win." Fox added that he would be "very shocked" if Carolina ever had another player as good as Ackley.

While Ackley was the top story, Ryan Graepel had four hits and leadoff batter Ben Bunting added three. In addition, Kyle Seager homered late in the game.

UNC pitcher Adam Warren allowed only three hits (one of them a three-run homer) and struck out six to improve to 10-2 on the season. Carolina improves to 48-17 while Southern Miss ends the season (and Coach Corky Palmer's career) at 40-26.

The Tar Heels, who lost to Arizona State in their first game in the World Series, get a chance for redemption as ASU entered the loser's bracket following a loss to Texas Tuesday night.