MARIETTA, Ohio - Entering the 2012 NCAA Division III Mideast Regional, Marietta's Josh Ungerbuehler had started just seven games.

But Marietta coach Brian Brewer had a gut feeling about his sophomore and he penciled him in as the designated hitter against eighth-seeded LaRoche (24-18) Wednesday afternoon at Don Schaly Stadium.

The gamble paid off big time for Brewer and the Pioneers (38-6), who rolled to a 12-3 victory behind Ungerbuehler's four-hit, six-RBI performance.

"He's athletic. He's a fast ball guy, and we knew the pitcher throws a majority of fast balls," Brewer said. "He also had some success against him the last time we played them. He's also swinging it right now."

That's an understatement. In just his eighth start of the season, Ungerbuehler had three singles and a towering three-run home run over that easily cleared the 330-foot sign in right field.

Ungerbuehler was pleased to step up to the challenge provided by the coaches.

"I had some pretty good at-bats in the conference tournament and the coaches put a lot of trust in me," said Ungerbuehler, who entered the regional hitting .281. "They had a lot of faith in me today and it paid off."

He took a little heat from his teammates following his first homer of the season. "A lot of the guys on the team were giving me a bunch of junk for getting it up in the jet stream."

Marietta's offense came alive early and the Pioneers didn't let up until they had gone through three LaRoche hurlers. Starter Tyler Ferguson (4-2) lasted just four innings after giving up 11 hits and nine earned runs. Just 11 days ago, he lost to Marietta in a tough 1-0 game.

"We couldn't throw strikes and that hurt," said LaRoche coach Chase Rowe. "When you score two runs off the best pitcher in the nation you like to think you have a chance. But if you aren't ready to play 27 outs you are not going to be successful against a team as good as Marietta."

Marietta starter Austin Blaski (11-1), OAC's Kent Tekulve Pitcher of the Year, faltered a bit in the first inning as he allowed a single and a triple to open the game. By the time he got out of the inning, Marietta was trailing 2-0.

"I don't think it was nerves. I think was the excitement of my senior year at regionals," said Blaski, who struck out 11 over seven innings. "I was a little hyped up and I got the ball up."

Once he settled down, though, Blaski kept the Redhawks in check. He did allow another run in the seventh when Brian Tougher singled home Dustin Lalle with two outs.

"We have confidence that if he gives up two in the first he's not going to give up much more the rest of the way," Brewer said. "He did a nice job of settling down and we did a nice job of answering."

The offensive response was the bright spot for Brewer.

"The answer is the best thing to come out of today," he said. "To go down 2-0 and come back from that is the most impressive thing."

Marietta finished with 14 hits, including a 3-for-4 performance from senior shortstop Tim Saunders, the OAC Dr. Bob Fisher Player of the Year. He also scored three runs and had one stolen base.

Senior second baseman Kirby Becker and junior catcher Alex Toth each added two hits for the Pioneers.

Freshman second baseman Shane Healey led the LaRoche offense by going 3-for-5.

Marietta will face St. John Fisher at 4:30 p.m. Thursday, while LaRoche will take on Westminster at 9:30 a.m.