MARIETTA, Ohio — Heidelberg coach Matt Palm said there's no one he'd rather have up to bat with the game on the line.

Steve Decker is glad he delivered for his coach.

Given a second shot courtesy of a dropped foul ball, the senior came through for his team. The Student Princes catcher ripped a Nick Sarkissian offering down the left-field line, driving home Derek Andrzejczak with the winning run in the bottom of the ninth. Heidelberg prevailed 9-8 over Adrian in Game 4 of the Mideast Regional at Marietta College's Don Schaly Stadium. [Box Score] [Photo Gallery]

"I think it starts with Steve being a tremendous leader and his work ethic. He's had a great year. Guys look to the leader," Palm said. "He kept battling and battling. The way his at bats go allow us to start the runners. The confidence in Steve to move the baseball allows us to do it. But they have a couple good outfield arms. When ball hits ground and (the runner is) already at third base you feel good about your chances."

Decker fouled off at least six Sarkissian offerings before it appeared he would be the second out of the inning. However, Adrian first baseman Jake Cappelletty dropped a pop foul and Decker delivered the game winner two pitches later.

"I was just trying to find a pitch I could drive. The zone was a little bigger today. Fortunately I got a gift from the first baseman. I knew I was going to end the game."

Just one inning earlier, it appeared the Bulldogs (30-12) would pull off its second upset of the regional with a solid 8-5 lead. But the second-ranked Students Princes rallied with two outs.

Following singles by Decker, Gar Keen and a walked by Jason Lash, Adrian pitcher Andrew Geese's first pitch to Alex Monroe was stroked to left center. All three base runners scored to even the game at 8.

Adrian coach Craig Rainey was confident his freshman pitcher could close the door against the hot-hitting Heidelberg offense.

"Andrew has pitched a lot of big innings for us all year. He gave us a great effort. He got out of some jams," Rainey said. "He's a freshmen trying to feel his way through. He scared the heck out of one of the top teams in the nation. He handled it mentally and physically."

The game picked up in the third inning after being postponed because of fog that settled over the stadium late Wednesday night. Adrian took the lead after scoring two in the third and fifth and another run in the sixth.

The Bulldogs also added two more runs in the eighth off Heidelberg's top pitcher, Andy Lowe. Rainey was pleased with how his team handled the tough scenario of playing over two days, but said losing his starter after the delay impacted the outcome.

"It's tough to prepare your team. We burned a pitcher last night and he's the conference pitcher of the year," Rainey said. "You still have to win games and that's the bottom line. We were put in a tough situation. Give Heidelberg credit. They are a great team and they had to go through the same thing as us. So that probably didn't affect anything. I would have liked our chances with our No. 1 guy, though."

Lowe pitched the final 4 2/3 innings for the victory, while Decker and Monroe each had three hits and three RBI to lead Heidelberg, which banged out 15 hits. Cody Meyer and Brian Bilius led Adrian with three hits. Bilius also had a two-run home run and four RBIs.

Both teams don't return to action in the regional until Friday. Adrian plays the loser of Penn State Behrend-Thomas More at 9:30 a.m., and Heidelberg faces the winner of Behrend-Thomas More at noon.