MARIETTA, Ohio – The Marietta College baseball team was eliminated from the NCAA Division III Regional Tournament by Rowan University on Sunday (May 30) evening. The Pioneers fell 9-8 in 10 innings and the Profs advanced to the National Championship.

The Pioneers finish the season with a 38-6 record. Rowan heads to Cedar Rapids, Iowa for the National Championship with a 29-4 record.

"Heck of a game. Obviously, we are disappointed to come out on the short end of it, but we are super proud of this group and everything they have accomplished, as they have gotten us back to competing on a national stage," said Head Coach Brian Brewer.  "There is an expectation that goes along with our program, this group of guys has gotten us back to where we need to be which is competing for a national championship."

Kail Hill pitched a scoreless top of the first inning and Marietta tacked on a pair of runs in the bottom of the first inning when Turner Hill lead off the inning with a double to left center field.  Hill advanced to third on a hit by Damien Yenzi.  Later in the inning Logan Vietmeier hit a two-run homerun to right center field to put the Pioneers on top 2-0 after the first inning.  

Rowan answered in the top of the second inning with four runs on four hits and walk in the inning taking a 4-2 lead.

Marietta regained the lead in the bottom of the second inning with three runs.  Trent Castle and Jared Weiss each singled to get the inning started and they were advanced to second and third by a sacrifice bunt from Drew Wilkinson.  Hill singled and drove in both Castle and Weiss to tie the game.  Hill came around to score on a double down the left field line off the bat of Yenzi.

Dalton Wiggins cruised through the third, fourth, and fifth innings in relief for the Pioneers.  Wiggins gave up a pair of runs in the top of the sixth, and the Profs regained a 6-5 edge.  Rowan added insurance runs in the top of the seventh when Ryan DiDomenico hit a two-run homerun to left field, to make the score 8-5.  

Marietta battled back in the bottom of the eighth when Hill got the inning started with double for his fourth hit of the game.  Yenzi walked to put runners at first and second with one out, and Drew Holderbach reached on a fielder's choice, and a throwing error on the play allowed Hill to score.  

After a Vietmeier walk, Trent Valentine doubled down the right field line to plate Holderbach.  An intentional walk of Dylan Albright loaded the bases, and the next batter up Castle was hit by a pitch to bring in pinch runner Rodreco Rachel to tie the game at eight runs apiece.  

Sam Matthews pitched a perfect ninth inning with a pair of strike outs to give the Pioneers a chance to win in the bottom of the ninth.  Yenzi got on base and represented the game winning run, but the teams remained tied at 8-8 to force extra innings.  

Rowan scored the go ahead run in the top of the tenth inning when a Victor Cruz ground out allowed Jared Marks to score. Marietta was unable to tie the game in the 10th and the Profs won the game, 9-8.  

"To see how far this team has come, and to battle through the adversity of this season, I am so proud of them," said Head Coach Mike Dickson.  "That's about as back and forth of a game as you can have, that was a great game by two great clubs."

Zach Listro (4-0) picked up the win with 2.1 innings of shutout relief. He was named the Regional Tournament Most Valuable Player after posting a pair of saves earlier in the weekend to go along with today's win.

Joining Listro on the All-Tournament Team from Rowan was third baseman Victor Cruz, shortstop Nick Schooley, outfielder Ryan Mostrangeli, designated hitter Ryan McIsaac and pitcher Eli Atiya.

Turner  Hill, Mathews, Weiss, Wilkinson and Valentine represented Marietta on the All-Tournament Team.