DEMOREST, Ga. — The Emory University Eagles pushed a run across in the bottom of the 12th inning to pull out a 3-2 victory over Marietta College Friday (May 15) afternoon in the NCAA South Regional. With the loss, the Etta Express finishes the season with a 29-18 record.

It was a day of missed opportunities for the Pioneers as Marietta put its lead off hitter on base six of the first eight innings yet trailed 1-0 heading into the ninth. The Express had base runners in each of those innings but stranded 11 on base.

With two outs and nobody on base in the top of the ninth, Senior Mitch Geers lined a single to shallow right field breathing a little life into the Pioneers. Fellow senior Ryan Hanahan followed with a towering home run over the left field wall to put Marietta in front 2-1.

Emory, who scored its first run in the sixth inning on a bases loaded walk, got a lead off double from Philip Maldari in the home half of the ninth.  Christian Herstine took over on the mound and quickly struck out the next Eagle batter. Pinch hitter Ben Vizvary dropped a single into right field plating Maldari with the tying run.

Neither team scored in the 10th or 11th frames and the Pioneers went down in order in the 12th. Nick Chambers reached on a bunt single to start the bottom of the 12th.  Marietta misplayed the ensuing sac bunt giving the Eagles runners at first and third with no outs.

Pioneer skipper Brian Brewer elected to intentionally walk Wes Peacock to load the bases. Herstine fielded an infield chopper off the bat of Wilson Morgan and got the force out at home. David Coble was the next Emory batter and got hit by a pitch that bounced in the dirt forcing home the winning run.

Freshman Ian Luttrell got the start on the mound for Marietta and tossed a stellar 5.1 innings. He allowed one run on three hits with a walk and three strikeouts. Mitch McNabb worked 0.1 innings before turning the game over to Mike Fulton.

Fulton threw 2.1 innings and was charged with one run on two hits. He struck out a pair of Emory batters. Herstine (6-5) was tagged with the loss after pitching 3.1 innings and allowing one unearned run on two hits.

Hans Hansen threw 6.1 shutout innings to start the game for the Eagles. Hansen allowed six hits with four walks and six strikeouts. Kyle Monk (4-2) worked the final 5.2 innings for the win. Monk gave up two runs on four hits and struck out seven Pioneers.

Tim McCoy and Tyler Packanik each had three hits in the game for the Pioneers. Packanik had a pair of doubles. Geers was 2-for-4 with a double, while Hanahana went 2-for-5 with his tenth home run of the season.

The loss brings to a close the careers of five Marietta seniors. Geers, Hanahan, Fulton, Chris Winpigler and Christian Demko finish their careers in the pinstripes with three Ohio Athletic Conference regular season championships, two OAC Tournament titles, four NCAA Tournament appearances and the 2012 National Championship.