ADA — Marietta College is back in the World Series — and this time the Pioneers are focused on winning the program's first championship.
 
The Etta Express earned a spot in the baseball championship series — which will be held at Pioneer Park from May 29-June 1 — by defeating Alma 8-5 and 17-6 on Saturday, May 23, at Ohio Northern University.
 
The road back to the World Series was not an easy one for Marietta (56-5-3), who lost to York in the regional opener and had to win five games over three days.
 
The Pioneers won the first game of the day 8-5, and a three-run ninth-inning secured the victory. Leading 5-4, Marietta opened the inning with a Tom Gammiere single and he moved to second on Jon Shuler's sacrifice bunt. Following Dan Munday's flyout to center, Ken Lisko, Jim Pancher and Tom Mohl each had RBI singles.
 
Mohl went 2-for-4 with a double and a stolen base. Jerry Bishop (8-1) gave up five hits and struck out four while tossing 7 1/3 innings in relief for the win. Steve Riley struck out two in the ninth inning to earn his third save of the season.
 
Alma's Bob Long went 2-for-4 with a home run, while Brad Boyer also had a homer.
 
In the day's final game, Marietta capitalized on two six-run innings to leave no doubt who the best team in the region was.
 
Already leading 5-0 courtesy of third-inning home runs by Steve Morman and Dan Munday, and Morman stealing home in the fifth, the Pioneers scored 12 runs over the sixth and and seventh innings.
 
Ken Lisko had a huge three-run double to center in the sixth, and Ken Mohl matched the feat in the seventh when he drove in Jim Pancher, Lisko and Munday.
 
Alma's Boyer went 2-for-3 with three RBI.
 
Marietta ace Dale Hurst improved to 13-2 on the season after striking out seven and walking two over 6 2/3 innings. He also allowed five hits and four runs.