Four N.C. schools make NCAA tournament, head on the road

RALEIGH, N.C. - In many ways, East Carolina had a season like no other. Coach Randy Mazey used 45 different lineups, and four pitchers were injured on the first weekend of the schedule.<br> <br> Yet the Pirates will finish it out the same as the previous six in the NCAA tournament.<br> <br> ``There are guys in our program that, during their four-year career, will have played in four regionals,&#39;&#39; Mazey said. ``That&#39;s special. We all wanted them to play in one more before they left.&#39;&#39;<br> <br> East Carolina (35-24) placed in the Tempe, Ariz., regional Monday, joining host Arizona State, Coastal Carolina and UNLV. North Carolina, North Carolina State and North Carolina A also made the tournament the Aggies are in for the first time and each opens on the road.<br> <br> The Tar Heels (40-17-1) lost any chance they had at hosting by losing two in a row in the Atlantic Coast Conference tournament. North Carolina plays Notre Dame in the Gainesville, Fla., regional, with Stetson and Florida in the other bracket.<br> <br> ``We&#39;re tickled to death that we&#39;re being sent somewhere,&#39;&#39; North Carolina coach Mike Fox said. ``It was a goal at the start of the year to be one of the 64 teams to get in. We feel privileged to be in.&#39;&#39;<br> <br> After upsetting Miami in their opener of the ACC tournament, the Wolfpack (40-17) dropped two straight and will travel to Lincoln, Neb., this weekend. They get Creighton on the first day, with Nebraska playing Illinois-Chicago.<br> <br> N.C. State rode the arm of two-sport star Andrew Brackman to a 25-9 record over its final 34 games, with Brackman finishing 4-0 with a 1.38 ERA in nine appearances.<br> <br> ``I believe we&#39;re playing really well right now,&#39;&#39; Wolfpack coach Elliott Avent said. ``This team has been tough and resilient all season, and we&#39;ve had a great year.&#39;&#39;<br> <br> North Carolina A was the only school from the state that knew it was securely in the tournament, thanks to a 10-9 victory over Norfolk State for the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference championship.<br> <br> It was the Aggies&#39; third title, but this is the first one that allows them to advance.<br> <br> ``This is just a great moment for the kids in this program,&#39;&#39; coach Keith Shumate said. ``These young men have worked hard for this program, put in the extra time it takes to be champions, so they deserve an opportunity to play in the NCAA tournament.&#39;&#39;<br> <br> At one point, the Pirates were 2-8 in Conference USA, in danger of missing the postseason. But six consecutive victories at that point got them back to .500, and they finished out their schedule by winning 16 of 20 in the league.<br> <br> The only downside is East Carolina won&#39;t get a chance to hold a regional at Clark-LeClair Stadium, a sparkling new facility that opened this season. Of course, just making the tournament was an achievement.<br> <br> ``I&#39;m proud of our guys and what they&#39;ve had to overcome this season,&#39;&#39; Mazey said. ``There was and still is a lot at stake. We&#39;re one of only 12 teams in the nation which have gone seven times in a row, and that&#39;s a testament to this program.&#39;&#39;