MARIETTA, Ohio — It'll be top-seed Heidelberg (39-6) needing just one victory over No. 3 seed Marietta (36-12) on championship Saturday of the Mideast Regional to advance to its first NCAA Division III Championship.

Heidelberg is 2-0, but has not faced the host Pioneers in the Regional. The Student Princes, who won the Ohio Athletic Conference, are 3-1 against Marietta this season. The Pioneers advanced to the championship game by rallying with a run in ninth and the winning run in the 10th to defeat Penn State-Behrend 2-1 Marietta Friday night. [Recap] [Photo Gallery]

The Student Princes and Pioneers open play at noon Saturday at Don Schaly Stadium. If Marietta wins the two teams will play again 30 minutes after the conclusion of that game.

Heidelberg made the regional championship in 2008 against Adrian. The Student Princes defeated Adrian 8-2 and then lost the second game 8-7 after giving up three runs in the bottom of the ninth.

Friday's action began under cloudy skies, but the rain stayed away.

In the opener, Thomas More (33-16) scored seven runs over the final three innings to pull out an 8-5 victory over Adrian, eliminating the Bulldogs. The Saints also had solid pitching from Michael Hager and Kyle Wewe. [Recap] [Photo Gallery]

In the winner's bracket game, Heidelberg downed Penn State-Behrend behind another strong pitching performance from Brian Koehl and Andy Lowe. Alex Monroe also went 3-for-5 with a grand slam and Ricardo Lizcano had three hits, including a solo homer. [Recap] [Photo Gallery]

Marietta picked up its third-straight win by routing Thomas More 16-4. The Pioneers had 16 hits, including three each by Britt Meador, Aaron Hopper and Jordan Grilliot. [Recap] [Photo Gallery]

In the final game of the day the Pioneers improved to 4-1 in the Regional by downing Behrend. It was the fourth straight team that the Etta Express eliminated.