GREENVILLE — Every dog has its day and that includes underdog Evansville, which wrapped up the Greenville regional championship on Monday with a 6-5 win over East Carolina.

Seeded fourth among four teams in the double-elimination event, the Purple Aces were plus $850 on a $100 bet to advance to the Super Regional last Friday when they stunned the top-seeded Pirates, 4-1, in the regional opener.

“Our goal was to make a regional, which we hadn’t done since 2006,” said Aces left fielder Mark Shallenberger, the regional MVP after his 3-run homer on a change-up from Zach Root (6-2) gave Evansville its final margin of victory in the bottom of the sixth inning.

“We’re here and it’s like the season was a success already,” Shallenberger said. “I know for a fact that East Carolina wasn’t rolling into a regional saying the season is a success already. You guys are clinging for Omaha. That’s where you’re going, right?

“For us, we’ve already won. The pressure is off of us. We’re enjoying this awesome atmosphere.”

Shallenberger said the Aces (38-24) would maintain their focus on the moment as they head for the Knoxville Super Regional to take on No. 1 national seed Tennessee (53-11) in a best of three.

In contrast, the Pirates seemed to labor under the weight of never making it to the College World Series in 34 tries in the NCAA Tournament.

“I’m sorry that I couldn’t do more for these guys,” said ECU coach Cliff Godwin, who was flanked by six seniors at the postgame news conference. “They deserve better. Our fans deserve better.”

Kip Fougerousse hit his second homer of the regional against the Pirates (46-17) in the bottom of the first.

A walk, a wild pitch and an error helped Evansville to a 2-0 lead in the second.

Jacob Jenkins-Cowart delivered a 2-run single with two out in the third to tie the score after a double by Carter Cunningham and a single by Ryley Johnson, who stole second.

Johnson had the only hit for ECU in an unusual 3-run fifth inning that included three walks and an error.

“We had the bases loaded and that weird play,” Godwin said. “I didn’t know if the shortstop caught it or not. Weird deal. If we had scored a few more there, it’s probably a different game.”

Max Hansmann (2-1) relieved Nick Smith during the fifth and was not charged with a run in four innings. Shane Harris pitched the ninth for his third save.

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