UNC and VIrginia advance to College World Series

North Carolina has advanced to the college world series for the fourth straight year after sweeping East Carolina in their best of three game series on Sunday. After easily winning game one, the Heels made it look routine again in winning game two 9-3. Dustin Akley hit a three run homer for the Heels in what figures to be his last year of college as he is likely a top 5 pick in the upcoming baseball draft on Tuesday.

The question for the Heels this year is can they actually close the deal and win a national championship? This is their fourth straight trip to the college world series and in two of those years they have made the championship series. They have not been able to close the deal in either of those other opportunities. This year could be their best chance as they were the preseason number one team and have been in the top 5 all year long.

Virginia was the second ACC team to qualify for the 2009 college world series, winning a tough three game series against Ole Miss on the road. This is Virginia's first trip to the college world series in school history. After dropping game one in extra innings, the Cavaliers won games two and three 4-3 and 5-1.

The question for Virginia will be how content they are to simply be in the field. This is their first trip in school history, much less for this group of players. Virginia has been one of the hotter teams in the country lately, winning the ACC tournament in a loaded field and now winning a three game super regional as the road team. Virginia could probably make a deep run as long as they play to win and are not just content with making the college world series.