From Staff Reports

CHAPEL HILL ó North Carolina scored two runs with two outs in the top of the ninth inning to nip Western Carolina 6-5 and win the Chapel Hill Regional in the NCAA baseball tournament on Monday at Boshamer Stadium.

The loss to UNC (51-12) on its last at bat ended the season for WCU (42-20), which lost one other tourney tilt on its opponentís last at bat.

The Catamounts were leading 5-4 in the ninth inning with two outs and Tar Heels runners on second and third, freshman southpaw Chris Masters was brought in and left-handed batter Josh Horton smacked a two-run single to give UNC the lead.

WCU threatened in the bottom of the ninth, but Blake Murphy, who doubled with one out, was left stranded on second base.
In other WCU playoff action:

ï WCU beat East Carolina 9-5 in the NCAA baseball tournament in the Chapel Hill Regional last Sunday for the Catamountsí first baseball win over the Pirates in 30 years.

Brock Thornburg, who allowed two runs (one earned) in 5-1/3 innings of relief, recorded the win. Fellow reliever Chris Masters pitched 2-1/3 scoreless innings, earning a save.

Meanwhile, Catamounts starter Corey Martin took a beating and left early, allowing three earned runs and six hits in 1-1/3 innings.

The Pirates dropped to 14-2 all-time against the Catamounts. ECU had registered 13 consecutive wins over WCU, which recorded its lone victory 30 years ago.

ï Behind Drew Saberhaganís dominating pitching, the Catamounts ripped the Jacksonville Dolphins 7-0 in the losers bracket of the Chapel Hill regional last Saturday.

Saberhagan (9-1), a sophomore, pitched eight scoreless innings, scattering seven hits and striking out five. The win snapped a season-high four-game losing streak for WCU.

Meanwhile, Steven Strausbaugh led WCU at the plate, finishing 3-for-5 with a single, double and triple. He registered one RBI. Collectively, the Catamounts smacked 13 hits, including homers by Kenny Smith, Jonathan Greene and John Ingram.

ï A bases-loaded single in the eighth inning propelled ECU over WCU 9-8 on Friday in the first round in the Chapel Hill regional of the NCAA baseball tournament.

After trailing 8-4, Jamie Rayís clutch single off closer Greg Holland in the eighth scored Harrison Eldridge to complete a five-run comeback and seal the victory for ECU.