College World Series 2013 schedule: The fifth and final round of N.C. State vs. North Carolina

After splitting their first four matchups this year, it’s only fitting that No. 1 North Carolina and N.C. State should meet one last time in an elimination game of the College World Series.

The in-state rivals and ACC foes will play Thursday night with much more than bragging rights on the line -- the winner will be advancing to face UCLA in the group finals while the loser will be heading back home to North Carolina.

N.C. State dismantled the Tar Heels, 8-1, to open CWS play last weekend, chasing UNC ace Kent Emanuel in the third inning and riding a shutout performance from their own star pitcher, Carlos Rodon. Fortunately for North Carolina, they won’t be seeing any more of Rodon, who, in his three starts against them this season, allowed just four runs in 25⅔ innings and fanned 32 batters.

Instead, they’ll see the Wolfpack’s Brad Stone (3-2, 5.28 ERA), a freshman lefty who threw 5⅓ scoreless innings against William & Mary in the regional round, his only outing of the tournament. Taking the mound for UNC will be Hobbs Johnson (4-1, 2.62 ERA), who has had an up and down tournament for the Heels. He allowed only one run in six innings in his first start against Florida Atlantic in the regionals, but surrendered five scores and was bounced before the second inning against South Carolina in the supers. He was effective in his only outing against N.C. State this year, striking out nine in a one-run, six-inning start in North Carolina’s ACC Tournament win.

That ACC Tournament contest was an epic 18-inning pitchers’ duel that North Carolina finally took, 2-1. Thanks to a brilliant ten-inning outing from Rodon, the Tar Heels managed only six hits in two games-worth of play, but one by Cody Stubbs pushed the winning run across in the top of the 18th. They would go on to beat Virginia Tech in the conference championship.

Prior to that meeting, the two teams split a rain-shortened regular season series in Raleigh in late April. UNC took the Friday game 7-1, but the Wolfpack bounced back on Saturday with a 7-3 win.

For a look at the updated bracket, visit NCAA.com.

Here are the quick hits for Thursday’s lone game:

Time: 8 p.m.

TV: ESPN