By KEVIN ECKLEBERRY

Daily News

Here we go again.

A few months ago, the Auburn and North Carolina men’s basketball teams squared off with a spot in the final eight of the NCAA tournament up for grabs.

This weekend, a berth in the final eight will be on the line once again, albeit in a different sport.

Auburn’s baseball team, coming off its victory over Georgia Tech in the NCAA regional, will visit North Carolina for a best-of-three super-regional.

The winner of the super-regional advances to the eight-team College World Series in Omaha.

Auburn is hoping the outcome is the same as it was in March when it beat North Carolina 97-80 to reach the elite eight.

North Carolina, which won the ACC championship before prevailing in a four-team regional, will be the host team.

Game one is Saturday at noon, and the second game is Sunday at 11:30 a.m.

If needed, a third and deciding game will be played on Monday at 1 p.m.

Auburn, with Troup High graduate Ryan Bliss playing a key role in every game, went 3-0 in the NCAA regional at Georgia Tech.

Bliss, a freshman second baseman, had six hits (including a solo home run) and two walks in the three games combined, and he had four RBIs and three runs scored.

Auburn is in a super-regional for a second straight year.

Last season, Auburn lost a hard-fought series to Florida, coming up just short of making it to Omaha.

“It’s special for us to get to go to back-to-back super regionals,” Thompson said.

The coach added that he’s “thankful to be part of such a special university. Crowds were amazing for both teams. And I do have to tip my cap to our faithful, after all we’ve been through, for them to show up en masse and lock shields with us for this regional says a lot about the true blue Auburn fans.”

SUPER-REGIONAL

(All games at North 

Carolina)

GAME ONE

Saturday, noon – ESPN2

Sunday, 11:30 a.m. – ESPN2

Monday, noon – ESPN2 (if necessary)