Regardless of what happens this weekend against South Carolina, ECU can take pride in this: Win or lose, the Pirates have solidified themselves as a baseball power.

That's the type of status that comes with two NCAA Regional championships, four No. 1 seeds, five 40-plus win seasons, and six postseason bids in a six-year period. During that span, East Carolina has missed the Regional championship game only once and has been a fixture in the national Top 10.

Those are the type of lofty standards Duke and Kentucky have set in hoops in recent years. About the only thing missing from the Pirates' résumé is the goal that ignited their current reign of excellence — a trip to Omaha.

With two wins against the host Gamecocks, No. 5 East Carolina can cross that major To-Do off its checklist. And if if the Pirates are going to devour another link on the baseball food chain, that's exactly what they must do.

Easier said than done.

''There wouldn't be any better place for me to celebrate my trip to Omaha than on that field right there because I've got a history of those people not liking me a whole lot and I've got a history of not liking them a whole lot,'' Pirates coach Randy Mazey said, recalling his brushes in the past with Sarge Frye Field in Columbia.

It certainly is fitting that South Carolina stands in the Pirates' path to Omaha.

By only a single measure, the Gamecocks are a level above the Pirates. The College World Series has become an annual trip for South Carolina, which no longer is satisfied with simply 'going'.

A roster stockpiled with major league talent now has Carolina thinking national title. Combine that with Omaha experience and a vocal home crowd, and you have the ultimate test.

Pass that test, and East Carolina can trade its label as a national power for a more exclusive one — baseball royalty — a crest which is worn by few.

Stanford and Texas are members of the family. Miami and LSU always show up at the reunions. Lately, the Gamecocks have been bashing the party.

That is the level at which East Carolina aspires to be.

“The first thing you’ve got to do in order to go is believe you can go,” Mazey said back in 2003. “These guys really believe they can.

"Myself and Coach Osborne are the only two people in this program who have ever set foot in Rosenblatt Stadium. We know what it’s like to be there. We know what it’s like to walk on that field and play in front of those people.”

Since the day former Pirates coach Keith LeClair first stepped on campus, Omaha has been the battle cry driving the program. And over the past four years, it has transformed a football culture into a community infatuated with its boys of summer.

All that stands in ECU's way is two wins against a virtual mirror team. South Carolina has pitching and power, defense and depth. Some are even saying it is Gamecocks coach Ray Tanner's best team yet.

If June is the judgment month in college baseball, the Pirates are facing their toughest jury. Sarge Frye Field has a reputation for being unfriendly and the No. 3 Gamecocks can be unpleasant hosts.

Those are the type of odds East Carolina must beat to be considered among the national elite.

Taylor-made outing

Despite carrying a perfect record into the Kinston Regional, Brody Taylor has been anything but immortal over the last half of the season. Struggling to hit his spots, the Pirates southpaw saw his ERA soar to 4.62 heading into the Kinston Regional.

If Sunday is any indication, Taylor could be on the verge of regaining his early-season form.

"Being able to get ahead was really the key tonight," Taylor said following the Pirates victory over UNCW Sunday. "Once I got ahead, then I could throw a couple of out pitches.

"A couple of times I left a couple of those pitches up and they scored a couple of runs. But, my changeup is finally starting to come back and get some movement and depth on it. I'm still struggling a little bit with the breaking ball, getting it over the plate. I've still got a lot of work to do, but I'm looking forward to it."

Taylor scattered ten hits in 6 2/3 innings, but Mazey said that isn't uncommon.

"Brody's been giving up a lot of hits lately," Mazey said. "He can really scatter them.

"When guys get on base, he finds a way to settle down and the ball comes down in the zone. That's not unlike him to give up a lot of hits and very few runs."

The Seahawks had runners aboard most of the evening, but Taylor remained calm and was able to get ground balls. Taylor said having a potent Pirates offense helps him remain calm when he gets in a jam.

"You go out there and give up a couple of runs, most teams, most pitchers, would worry about that," Taylor said. "But with the lineup that we have, I have no doubt in my mind that we'll score runs."

Jones back on track

Smarty Jones was unsuccessful in his bid for the Triple Crown this past weekend, but another thoroughbred, Pirates centerfielder Ryan Jones, succeeded in ending a power drought.

With the Pirates holding a narrow lead in Sunday's game against UNCW, Jones sent an 0-1 pitch deep over the right field wall to give ECU a little breathing room. Mazey said following the 11-4 victory that Jones' power surge provided a sigh of relief.

"It was nice to see some power out of Jonesy," Mazey said. "He's hit a lot of home runs this year, but not too many lately.

"Seeing that ball come off his bat with that trajectory and that much juice behind it, it's good to see him back on track. He smoked a lot of balls tonight. To have him and Trevor swinging the bat well again at the same time really carries our club."

Jones, who led the Pirates in hitting this season and was the Conference USA player of the year, said he knew his fifth-inning shot was gone when it left the bat.

"I was just trying to get something positive going for us," Jones said. "When I hit it, I knew it was going to be a home run.

"It was like a sigh of relief. I've just felt like I've been in a bubble lately."

Consider that bubble busted. Jones followed his breakout performance Sunday with a 2-for-2 effort in the championship game yesterday, pushing his average to .402 entering the Super Regional.