OMAHA, Neb. -- The College World Series has seen a lot of good pitching so far, but Tuesday was a day for the bats to make their mark.
North Carolina avoided elimination by jumping on the back of the nation's top hitter, and Dustin Ackley responded with a 5-for-6 day to help the Tar Heels eliminate Southern Miss 11-4.
Not to be outdone, top-ranked Texas spotted fifth-seeded Arizona State six runs, then scored 10 unanswered to earn a couple of days off at the College World Series with a 10-6 win over the Sun Devils.
In Tuesday's first game, Ackley became the all-time career leader in hits at the College World Series, breaking the mark of 26 hits set by Stanford's Sam Fuld from 2001-2003. He came within a ninth-inning flyout of going 6-for-6 on the day, something only one other player has done in College World Series history.
Ackley's effort was part of a 23-hit outing for the North Carolina squad, which jumped out to an 8-0 lead and never looked back. The first-round draft pick of the Seattle Mariners had four singles and a double to highlight the winning effort.
It was the final game for Southern Miss coach Corky Palmer, who announced his retirement midway through the season.
A wild game was expected between two of the all-time winningest programs in college baseball, but it looked like it would be a one-sided affair when the Sun Devils rocked Texas for three runs in the second and three more in the third.
Texas responded with an amazing comeback, scoring six runs in the fourth to tie the game. They got the go-ahead run in the seventh when Cameron Rupp hit his second homer of the night -- a solo shot right -- then added three more in the eighth for insurance.
Arizona State broke the ice in the second with a solo homer by Kole Calhoun, then scored two more runs on a passed ball and a Jared McDonald single. They would double their lead in the third with another leadoff homer, this one by Carlos Ramirez, along with a sacrifice fly and a Texas throwing error.
Texas came right back in the fourth, thanks to a three-run homer by Rupp, an infield RBI single by Travis Tucker and a two-run single by Brandon Belt to tie the game at 6-6.
By winning their first two games, the Longhorns will wait until Friday before they play again, as North Carolina and Arizona State will meet Thursday at 6 p.m. to determine which team will face Texas in one of the bracket finals this weekend.
Wednesday night will be another elimination game, as Arkansas takes on Virginia at 6 p.m. The winner of that game will face LSU and will have to beat the Tigers twice to get to the finals.
You can get great seats to all the remaining games at the 2009 College World Series right now at Ticket Express -- where no College World Series game is ever sold out.
College World Series Schedule, Results
(All times CDT)
Saturday, June 13
Game 1 -- Arkansas 10, Cal State Fullerton 6
Game 2 -- LSU 9, Virginia 5
Sunday, June 14
Game 3 -- Arizona State 5, North Carolina 2 (10 inn.)
Game 4 -- Texas 7, Southern Miss 6
Monday, June 15
Game 5 -- Virginia 7, Cal State Fullerton 5 (CSF eliminated)
Game 6 -- LSU 9, Arkansas 1
Tuesday, June 16
Game 7 -- North Carolina 11, Southern Miss 4 (Southern Miss eliminated)
Game 8 -- Texas 10, Arizona State 6
Wednesday, June 17
Game 9 -- Virginia (49-14-1) vs. Arkansas (40-23), 6 p.m.
Thursday, June 18
Game 10 -- North Carolina (48-17) vs. Arizona State (50-13), 6 p.m.
Friday, June 19
Game 11 -- LSU (53-16) vs. Winner Game 9, 1 p.m.
Game 12 -- Texas (48-14-1) vs. Winner Game 10, 6 p.m.
Saturday, June 20
Game 13 -- Winner Game 11 vs. Loser Game 11, 1 p.m.
Game 14 -- Winner Game 12 vs. Loser Game 12, 6 p.m.
(NOTE: If only one "if necessary" game is played, it will be at 6 p.m.)
Monday, June 22
Championship Game 1 -- Bracket winners, 6 p.m.
Tuesday, June 23
Championship Game 2 -- Bracket winners, 6 p.m.
Wednesday, June 24
Championship Game 3 -- Bracket winners, 6 p.m. (If necessary)
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