DEMOREST, Ga. — Marietta College defeated top-seeded and No. 6 ranked Rhodes College 4-3 Thursday (May 14) afternoon in the NCAA Division III South Regional being played on the campus of Piedmont College. The Pioneers staved off elimination and will now play Emory University at 3:30 p.m. on Friday.

Sophomore Tommy Crowl (7-3) scattered eight hits and allowed two runs, one earned, over 8.0 innings to get the win. He walked two and struck out five before turning the game over to freshman David Stover. Stover threw the ninth inning for his second save of the season. He gave up one run on two hits and struck out one.

Rhodes jumped on top with an unearned run in the third inning. The Lynx would plate another run in the fourth for a 2-0 lead. Rhodes almost blew the game open in the fourth but a fantastic catch by Tim McCoy in deep centerfield ended the Lynx threat.

The Etta Express cut the deficit in half in the bottom of the fourth. Ryan Hanahan reached on an error to start the inning. Chris Winpigler singled and then Tyler Packanik dropped down a sac bunt but was safe at first when the Rhodes pitcher mishandled the ball.

Chris Petrucci picked up the first of his three runs batted in with a ground ball to second. Packanik was forced out at second while Hanahan scampered home. Rhodes prevented further damage by successfully defending against the double steal and throwing out Winpigler at the plate.

Christian Demko and McCoy led off the fifth with back-to-back singles. Mitch Geers stepped to the plate and lined a base hit to left scoring Demko with the tying run.

Hanahan sac bunted to put both runners in scoring position. After a strikeout and a walk, Petrucci smacked a 3-2 pitch to right field scoring McCoy and Geers to give the Pioneers a 4-2 lead.

Rhodes refused to go away quietly as pinch hitter Levi Greenburg reached on a one-out double. Stover got the next Lynx hitter to ground out to Hanahan for the second out of the inning bringing the top of the batting order to the plate.

Lynx shortstop Bill Munson stepped to the plate having hit safely in three of his four at bats. The lone out was McCoy's catch in center field back in the fourth inning.

Munson drilled another hit to right field scoring Greenburg to make it 4-3. With 43 stolen bases on the season, Munson attempted to get into scoring position but was gunned down by Winpigler for the final out of the game.

Geers and Demko each had two hits in the game for the Pioneers. Petrucci notched three RBI.

Adam Putnam (9-3) went the distance on the mound for Rhodes. He allowed four runs, three earned, on seven hits. Putnam walked two and struck out four.