It was an important weekend for the Canes' top-rated baseball team. Here are the highlights:

• The Canes wrapped up their regular season by hosting a three-game series against No. 2 North Carolina. The Canes had gone the entire season without losing a series before the Tar Heels came in and won two out of three.
• After UM won the series opener, the Tar Heels won the next two. It was the first time this season the Canes lost two games in a row. Miami is still a lock to host an NCAA Regional. Plus, slugger Yonder Alonso predicted Saturday that the Canes will win the College World Series.  
• After blowing out North Carolina 12-2 in the first game, the Canes lost the second game 10-6. But the Canes nearly pulled that loss out, loading the bases in the bottom of the ninth. Mark Sobolewski, who had hit a grand slam earlier in the game, tapped out, however.
• The Canes (43-8) had a seven-run comeback in the rubber game vs. North Carolina before finally losing, 12-11. Slugger Dennis Raben struck out with two outs in the bottom of the ninth and runners on the corners. An extra-base hit by Raben would have won the game for UM.
• The bright spot for UM was its offense, which scored 29 runs in the three games (nearly 10 per contest). All that hitting came against a Tar Heels team that came in with the top-ranked pitching staff in the nation and a 2.28 team ERA. Alonso, by the way, leads the ACC with 19 HRs.
• The concern for Miami is pitching. After freshman Chris Hernandez improved to 10-0 with a 2.67 ERA in the opener, the proverbial wheels came off. Eric Erickson (7-1) was handed his first loss of the season and has not returned to his freshman form after an injury caused him to miss a month of action. No. 3 starter Kiki Garcia also got hit hard.  
• Despite losing the series, the Canes are still the top seed in this week's ACC Tournament in Jacksonville. Florida State is No. 2, and the Tar Heels are third. Miami's first game is Wednesday at 1 p.m. vs. No. 8 Clemson.