MARIETTA, Ohio — Freshman Darrin Spitzer sparked a five-run, eighth-inning rally with a pinch-hit RBI double to center as Marietta College captured the 1986 NCAA Division III World Series title with an 11-6 victory over Ithaca College in front of a hometown crowd at Pioneer Park.

Trailing 6-5, Marietta coach Don Schaly made a tactical move in the eighth inning that resulted in a positive outcome. Schaly inserted Jeff Marbaugh to pinch hit for Scott McVicar, but Ithaca countered with a left-handed reliever. Schaly responded by sending Spitzer to the plate, who hit a 1-0 pitch to left-center for the game-tying double. He later scored the go-ahead run on a ground out.

Senior pitcher Jim Katschke (14-4), who also got the start in the 1983 Championship game, went the distance for Marietta, scattering 10 hits, to pick up the win, his second in the Series.

The Bombers (32-16), who beat Marietta 18-12 in the second round of the Series, took a 6-1 lead through five innings. Ithaca rattled Katschke for nine hits as the Bombers scored a run in the second, two in the third, two in the fourth, and one in the fifth.

Dave Dasch led Ithaca by going 2-for-5 with two RBI, and John Cole went 2-for-4 with an RBI. Jim Nietopski added a triple and an RBI.

The Pioneers scored 10 runs over the final four innings, including three in the sixth. With two outs, Drew Witouski belted a triple center field, followed by a single by senior Mike Brandts. Bill Holmes singled in Brandts, and Holmes scored on a single by John Sudges.

Witouski finished with four of the Pioneers' 14 hits, which included a double. He also had two RBI and two runs. Holmes went 2-for-4 with three RBI and one run, while Sean Risley was 2-for-6 with an RBI and a stolen base.

Roger Thompson and Spitzer also finished with two hits in the championship game.

Ithaca starter John Cangemi gave up seven hits, eight walks, and six runs over 7 1/3 innings. However, reliever John Jorgensen took the loss after giving up two hits and four runs without recording an out in the eighth inning.

Brandts, who went 1-for-4 with two RBI in the title game, was named the Most Valuable Player of the Tournament. Brandts finished the Series 11-for-21 (.524) with three home runs, 15 runs scored and 10 RBI. Brandts finished the season as Marietta's top hitter with a .440 average to go with a school-record 24 home runs.

Katschke, Witouski, and Risley joined Brandts on the All-Tournament team.