MARIETTA, Ohio — Last night while relaxing at the hotel, Nick Zeiser called together two of his closest friends for small pep talk.

"Two of the other guys (Marty Kersting and Chris Fishburn) I've been playing baseball with for nine or 10 years. We got together in the hotel room last night and told each other, 'Let's not make this the last day,' " said Zeiser, Thomas More's catcher.

All three former Elder High School teammates did their part to make sure the Saints (33-15) would play again in the NCAA Division III Mideast Regional as Thomas More rallied for seven runs in the final three innings for an 8-5 victory over Adrian Friday morning (May 21, 2010). The Bulldogs' season ended at 30-13 at Marietta College's Don Schaly Stadium. [Box Score] [Photo Gallery]

Zeiser led the offensive assault by going 4-for-5 with a run scored. Kersting added two hits and run, while Fishburn had a single, two RBI and a run.

"We fought all year and we've never given up in any game we've played," Zeiser said. "That's a testament to these guys and how much they love baseball."

Thomas More coach Jeff Hetzer has a good philosophy on why his team is playing well in the regional.

"If you look at our roster it's a unique situation. We have a good mix of seniors and freshmen," he said. "The freshmen who haven't been here before are excited to be here and they don't get tired. For the seniors, they know this it so they don't want it to end. They'd play 10 games a day if let them. We're riding the wave of the moment. We're going off adrenaline."

Through the first six innings Friday, the Saints were kept in check by Adrian's top pitcher Josh Lancaster (8-2).

"He threw really well. He was someone who pitched backwards. That's the scouting report on us," Hetzer said. "We stayed with the plan. A lot of it has been infectious. That's what happened in seventh, eighth and ninth innings. We try to win the last three innings."

Trailing 4-1, Thomas More took its first lead in the seventh by plating four runs on five hits.

"Josh Lancaster was pitching well, but then it just kind of imploded on us. That's kind of how baseball is," said Adrian coach Craig Rainey. "A couple of grounders through the infield got us. The bigger thing was the runs in the ninth."

Leading 5-4, the Saints added three insurance runs on three hits. Adrian also helped with an error and wild pitch. Ryan Darner had the big hit—a two-run double to right center off Dan Welch.

Adrian did manage a run in the bottom of the ninth off Thomas More's closer Kyle Wewe (seven saves).

"When you get to Kyle (Wewe) we feel it's automatic. He's already proven himself as one of the best closers in the country," Hetzer said. "We battled. Never quit."

But the Saints do get to rest a little before taking on Marietta (34-12) at 4:30 today. Thomas More defeated the Pioneers 4-3 in 10 innings on the first day of the regional.

"We'll go back and get a quick shower and get some food and then come back and hit," Zeiser said. "We don't want to sit around too long because when our team thinks too much that's when we play bad."