GRAND CHUTE, Wis. — It may have been called a "throw away game" on the schedule, but No. 1 Marietta College was all business Monday (May 30) in eliminating Keystone College 11-2 at Fox Cities Stadium to remain the only undefeated team at the 2011 NCAA Division III National Championship. [Box Score]

The Etta Express (46-3), winners of 22 straight, head into its record 12th national championship game needing one victory in two games to secure a fifth national title and second in six seasons. Marietta's opponent in Tuesday's (May 31) noon EST match-up will be No. 9 Chapman University, who avoided elimination with a 3-2 win over Buena Vista University Monday.

For the first time in the 2001 World Series, Marietta didn't start an All-American on the mound. Junior Mike Mahaffey (Worthington/Bishop Watterson), however, threw like one as he blanked the high-powered Giant offense on three hits over seven innings. Mahaffey (3-0) worked around two walks and struck out four in the biggest start of his career.

"Similar story to what has happened here the last few nights," Head Coach Brian Brewer said. "We got another great pitching performance from Mike (Mahaffey). We caught the ball and applied some pressure and swung it a little cleaner today."

The Pioneer offense, which patiently scored late inning run in the previous three victories, set the tone for the game with five runs in the first four frames.

Two-out lightning struck in the top of the third for Marietta. It scored three runs with the help of two hits and two errors. Sophomore catcher Alex Toth (Painesville/Notre Dame-Cathedral Latin) reached on an error and later scored on another. Senior All-American center fielder John Snyder (Altoona, Pa./Altoona) followed with a RBI single before the Pioneers stole a run with a successful first and third play.

In the fourth, the Etta Express added to its lead when senior All-Conference first baseman Casey Levens (Dayton/Centerville) deposited a two-run blast over the left field fence for his first home run of the spring. Sophomore All-Region right fielder Aaron Hopper (Wheelersburg/Wheelersburg), who was hit by a pitch for the 15th time this season, scored on the home run.

Marietta broke the game open completely with a five-run seventh. Snyder singled home his second run of the day. Junior All-American shortstop Tim Saunders (Alliance/Alliance) and freshman pinch runner Matt Moormeier (Chesterland/Notre Dame-Cathedral Latin) both scored on the Giants' fourth error of the day. Toth then added a RBI single to give the Etta Express the 10-0 advantage.

The Pioneers scored their 11th and final run in the eighth when a Hopper single plated Becker for the third time of the game.

Keystone (38-12) broke up the shutout bid with a two-out, two-run double off sophomore Luke Langdon (Troy/Troy). Langdon, however, retired the next hitter, and classmate Michael Radvansky (Toronto/Toronto) worked a scoreless ninth to help Marietta close out the win.

The Etta Express finished with 11 hits, including two from Becker, Snyder, Saunders, Levens and Toth.

"All these teams do certain things well, and Chapman does everything well," Brewer said. "They are very similar program wise and philosophy wise to us. They pitch it, they catch it and try to apply some pressure offensively. It is going to be a great challenge tomorrow."