Miss. State must face North Carolina, again

By By Marty Stamper/EMG sports assistant
June 1, 2003
STARKVILLE In the driver's seat and all gassed up and ready to go.
That's the scenario for the North Carolina Tar Heels today as they enter the finals of the NCAA Regional at Starkville undefeated.
UNC (41-21) takes on Mississippi State (42-19-1) at 1:30 p.m. today. If State wins, the same two teams will square off at 5 p.m.
The Tar Heels needed 11 innings to beat Missouri 4-3 on Friday before thumping State 10-5 Saturday.
Hitting has been a Tar Heel strong point much of the season.
State will start the 1:30 p.m. game with Jacob Blakeney on the mound. In 10 appearances, he's 3-0 with a 4.97 ERA. In 25.1 innings, he has struck out 30 and walked 14. Teams are batting .239 off him.
The only two pitchers Polk said will definitely not see action today are Paul Maholm and Jamie Gant.