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CHAPEL HILL — The win itself — a 9-3 triumph over East Carolina on Sunday defined by quality pitching and timely hits — was nothing out of the ordinary.

It's the repetition of these NCAA tournament victories that is the story, as they have rapidly cemented North Carolina as one of college baseball's elite programs — a group that is largely defined by which teams show their face in Omaha year after year.

And with Sunday's win at Boshamer Stadium to close out the Super Regional in two straight games, the Tar Heels waltzed back to their seemingly annual June destination, the College World Series, for the fourth consecutive year.

"That's what every college player wants to do is make it to Omaha, but we've been so blessed," UNC center fielder Mike Cavasinni said. "God's blessed us for four years to make it back, and there's nothing else you can say but we're just living the dream right now."

After losing 10-1 on Saturday, ECU turned to freshman starter Kevin Brandt, who struck out ten in 8.1 scoreless innings against UNC in a 4-0 win on April 22. He looked strong in the first two innings, but with a runner on second and two outs in the third, the young lefty made a crucial mistake by walking Ben Bunting — which meant he had to face UNC star Dustin Ackley.

Brandt got two quick strikes on the slugger before eventually walking him to load the bases. But he had used up all the free real estate, and with no more room No. 3 hitter Kyle Seager singled to center on the first pitch to drive home two.

"That's all we've talked about all year long, is the other seven guys," UNC coach Mike Fox said. "And you have only one objective, and that's to get on base when Dusty and Kyle come to the plate."

The Pirates had no luck dealing with UNC starter Alex White on Saturday, and Adam Warren wasn't much easier on Sunday. He gave up no runs through the first seven innings and ended up with eight strikeouts before leaving in the eighth.

"He was hitting his spots, and if he missed, he was missing just a couple balls off, a couple inches off the plate," ECU second baseman Ryan Wood said.

The Tar Heels then scored five runs in the top of the sixth. The big hit was an opposite-field, three-run homer on a breaking ball by Ackley, who will be hearing his name called early during Tuesday's Major League Baseball draft.

"He got out on his front foot, stayed back. I mean, there's a reason he's one of the best hitters in college baseball," ECU coach Billy Godwin said.

It's almost hard to remember that before 2006 the Tar Heels hadn't been to the College World Series since 1989. They are now 20-1 in the pre-Omaha segment of the NCAA Tournament during the last four years.

And after Sunday's win, accentuated by a dog pile on the field after the final out, UNC is the first ACC team to make it to the College World Series in four straight seasons.

"I tried to enjoy this win today more than I ever have here just to kind of let it loose," Fox said. " ... You can't ever take this for granted. I've said it after the first year, second, third — we may never go back again. And we might not. The journey we've been on is pretty amazing."

Contact Jesse Baumgartner at 373-7091 or jesse.baumgartner@news-record.com

North Carolina 002 005 101 — 9 13 0

East Carolina 000 000 030 — 3 10 0

WP: Warren. LP: Brandt.

HR: Ackley (UNC), Gore (UNC).

Records—UNC 47-16, ECU 46-12.