CHAPEL HILL — North Carolina surged offensively after East Carolina had taken a 3-0 lead on Saturday and topped the Pirates, 7-5, in the winners bracket matchup in the NCAA baseball regional at Boshamer Stadium.

The Pirates (37-23-1) move to an elimination game on Sunday at noon against Virginia Commonwealth (38-24), which knocked Tennessee out, 5-4, in the first game Saturday.

UNC (47-11-1) will await the ECU-VCU winner for a matchup on Sunday at 5 p.m. The Tar Heels came claim the regional with a win. A UNC loss would mean a deciding game Monday.

From a tie at 3 on Saturday, the Heels took the lead in the top of the fifth when Gavin Gallaher scored on a sacrifice fly by Erik Paulson.

The lead grew to 7-3 in the sixth as Jake Schaffner had a run-scoring double and Gallaher had a 2-run two bagger down the left field line.

Jeff Sabater finished a super day at the plate for the Pirates with a 2-run triple to left in the seventh to get ECU within 7-5.

Sabater went 3-for-4 with a double, triple and four RBIs.

In the top of the first inning, ECU left-hander Luke Payne left the bases loaded with a strikeout of Cooper Nicholson.

The Pirates, designated the home team according to NCAA regulations, took a 2-0 lead in the bottom of the first after a leadoff infield single by Grady Lanahan.

A sacrifice bunt by Davin Whitaker moved Lanahan to second and he scored on a single up the middle by Braden Burress.

UNC starting right-hander Jason DeCaro had not allowed a run by the Pirates in 13-plus innings in two previous games.

As the first inning continued, Burress went to second on a single by Michael Kalinich and came home for a 2-0 lead on a double down the right field like by Sabater.

ECU came out on the favorable side of a video review in the top of the second. The Pirates appealed a hit batter and the call was overturned for a pivotal out.

ECU closed the top of the third with a strike ’em out, throw ’em out double play as a peg by Walker Barron was right on the money.

Burress walked to start the Pirates’ half of the third and stole second. Colby Wallace walked with one out to bring up Sabater, who got his second RBI of the game with a single to left center for a 3-0 ECU lead.

UNC tied the score at 3-3 in the fourth on a 3-run homer to center by Colin Hynek. The blast finished the day for Payne and lefty Charlie Hoagland came in to get the last two outs of the frame.

The Tar Heels pulled DeCaro after a walk to Whitaker with two out in the fourth. Whitaker worked his way aboard from a 1-2 count and righty Caden Glauber (10-0) came in to face Burress, who drew a walk. Kalinich went down swinging to end the inning.

Gallaher doubled down the left field line to start the fifth for UNC and Owen Hull was hit by a pitch. The Pirates brought in right-handed side-armer Ethan Rose for Hoagland at that point.

A sacrifice bunt moved the runners to second and third before Joe Webb was summoned to the mound.

Paulsen hit his go-ahead sacrifice fly off Webb and Hoagland (0-3) was charged with the loss as Gallaher was his responsibility.

Gavin Marley held UNC scoreless over the last three and two-thirds innings. He allowed two hits with no walks and one strikeout.

Each team had 10 hits. Burress was 3-for-3 for the Pirates with two walks. Kalinich had two hits.

Walker McDuffie pitched the ninth for his sixth save.

“We were working our way out of jams early, and unfortunately gave up a three-run homer,” said ECU coach Cliff Godwin. “Our offense was really good against DeCaro. He is one of the best pitchers in the country.

“We knew they would go to Glauber next. He is one of the best pitchers in the country. And McDuffie is one of the best pitchers in the country. Proud of the way our guys fought.”