OMAHA, Neb. — Fresno State Bulldogs fans have been wearing their "Underdog to Wonderdog" T-shirts around Rosenblatt Stadium for days en masse.

They just might get a chance to order some national championship shirts pretty soon.

Fresno State's improbable postseason run will end in the College World Series championship round after Tommy Mendonca drove in four runs and Clayton Allison overcame a shoulder ailment to shut down North Carolina in a 6-1 victory last night.

"If you look where we started out," closer Brandon Burke said, "where we're at now is inconceivable."

A Fresno State team (45-30) that became the first No. 4 regional seed to reach the CWS now finds itself matched against Georgia (44-23-1) in the best-of-three championship series starting today. Fresno State joins clubs such as Eastern Michigan in 1976, Wichita State in 1982 and Pepperdine in 1992 as surprise finalists.

North Carolina (54-14), the No. 2 national seed and CWS runner-up the past two years, was denied a third straight appearance in the finals.

"Fresno, they've got to put the underdog card down," Georgia coach David Perno said. "It isn't going to fly with us. They're a real good baseball team."

Fresno State coach Mike Batesole has used underdog talk to motivate his players throughout the postseason, and he doesn't plan to stop now against Georgia.

"You look at the two clubs on paper," Batesole said, "and you'd have to think that."

Maybe on paper, but what about on the field?

"This team," he said, "has a way of finding a way."

Fresno State's journey has been anything but smooth, but the Bulldogs were in control against North Carolina, pressuring the Tar Heels every inning and scoring at least a run in each between the third and sixth. North Carolina used seven pitchers in all, including Alex White, who was making his fourth appearance.

"We probably asked a little too much out of those guys," Tar Heels coach Mike Fox said. "Kids will tell you they're ready, and that's because they're competitors."

Allison (4-5), out since the second game of the super regionals because of tendinitis in his right (throwing) shoulder, allowed only Dustin Ackley's double to start the game and five singles. The only run against him came when he issued a bases-loaded walk in the fourth. He struck out six and walked three in six innings.

"It was a gutsy performance when we needed one the most," Batesole said. "That was a mental battle, and he won it."

Allison was backed by a strong defense, particularly by Mendonca at third base. Mendonca has been terrific at the corner all CWS, and he punctuated the victory by making a nice stop on Garrett Gore's hot shot down the line to start a double play.

"We came out with our backs against the wall, and I had to make some pitches, do my thing and get the ball to the bullpen," Allison said.

Fresno State opened the scoring in the third against reliever Brian Moran (1-2). Alan Ahmady was intentionally walked to load the bases with one out, and then Mendonca hit a two-run single to left.

The Bulldogs went up 3-1 in the fourth on Danny Muno's RBI single.

As he congratulated Batesole after the game, Fox said, he offered some unsolicited advice about playing in the finals.

"I told their coach to enjoy it," he said, "because it's a wonderful experience."