PROVIDENCE, R.I. – A pair of thrilling finishes delivered key wins for two American Athletic Conference teams in Saturday's action in the NCAA Division I Baseball Championship as East Carolina advanced to the final of the Charlottesville Regional with an 8-6 win against Virginia, while Tulane remained alive in the Oxford Regional with a 6-5 win against Mississippi.
East Carolina 8, Virginia 6
The Pirates advanced to the Charlottesville Regional final as Travis Watkins' three-run home run capped a five-run bottom of the ninth as East Carolina overcame a 6-3 deficit against Virginia, the 2015 NCAA champion. Charlie Yorgen went 4-for-5, while Garretr Brooks was 3-for-4 for the Pirates, who will face either Virginia or William & Mary Sunday at 6 p.m. in the regional final. East Carolina, which is 2-0 in the regional, would advance to the Super Regional round with a win Sunday, while a Pirate loss would set up a Monday rematch for the Super Regional berth.
Tulane 6, Mississippi 5
Tulane staved off elimination in the Oxford Regional as the Green Wave ended Ole Miss' season in a back-and-forth matchup. After Stephen Alemais drew a nine-pitch walk in the top of the ninth, Jake Rogers followed with a no-doubt-about-it two-run home run to left, giving the Green Wave the lead for good. Hunter Williams hit two home runs for Tulane, while Corey Merrill struck out four in three innings of relief to get the win. Tulane will face Pac-12 champion Utah Sunday at 2 p.m. ET in an elimination game, while Boston College awaits the winner in the 6 p.m. regional final.
Florida 6, UConn 5
UConn fell to the elimination round of the Gainesville Regional as the No. 1-ranked Gators broke a 5-5 tie in the top of the eighth inning on Jonathan India's solo home run. UConn trailed 5-2, but scored three runs in the bottom of the fifth to tie it before India's shot provided the winning margin. First-baseman Bobby Melley went 2-for-4 with a home run for UConn, which faces Georgia Tech in an elimination game Sunday at noon. A Huskies win would send UConn to a 6 p.m. matchup with Florida in the regional final round.
2016 NCAA Baseball Championship
Gainesville Regional · Gainesville, Fla.
Friday, June 3
No. 3 UConn 7, No. 2 Georgia Tech 6
No. 1 Florida 9, No. 4 Bethune-Cookman 3
Saturday, June 4
Georgia Tech 12, Bethune-Cookman 3 (Bethune-Cookman eliminated)
Florida 6, UConn 5
Sunday, June 5
Georgia Tech vs. UConn............................................................................. Noon
Georgia Tech/UConn winner vs. Florida...................................................... 6 p.m.
Monday, June 6
Georgia Tech/UConn vs. Florida (if necessary)............................................ 6 p.m.
Oxford Regional · Oxford, Miss.
Friday, June 3
No. 3 Boston College 7, No. 2 Tulane 2
No. 4 Utah 6, No. 1 Mississippi 5
Saturday, June 4
Tulane 6, Mississippi 5 (Mississippi eliminated)
Boston College 4, Utah 3
Sunday, June 5
Tulane vs. Utah........................................................................................ 2 p.m.
Tulane/Utah winner vs. Boston College....................................................... 6 p.m.
Monday, June 6
Tulane/Utah winner vs. Boston College (if necessary).................................. 8 p.m.
Charlottesville Regional · Charlottesville, Va.
Friday, June 3
No. 1 Virginia 17, No. 4 William & Mary 4
No. 3 East Carolina 9, No. 2 Bryant 1
Saturday, June 4
William & Mary 4, Bryant 3 (Bryant eliminated)
East Carolina 8, Virginia 6
Sunday, June 5
Virginia vs. William & Mary..................................................................... 1 p.m.
Virginia/William & Mary winner vs. East Carolina....................................... 6 p.m.
Monday, June 6
Virginia/William & Mary winner vs. East Carolina (if necessary) ................. 6 p.m.
all times Eastern