MARIETTA, Ohio — Anyone who has been around Marietta College baseball for a decade a more is well aware anything is possible at Don Schaly Stadium.

Go ahead and add Friday night's 2-1 come-from-behind victory over Penn State-Behrend in the NCAA Division III Mideast Regional to the lore. [Box Score] [Photo Gallery]

"We were confident the whole way. Coach (Mike) Deegan was really leading the charge in the dugout, and so was Kyle Lindquist (Columbus/Worthington Kilbourne)," said Marietta coach Brian Brewer. "History speaks for itself. As well as we've played this far and as much as we've battled, I really didn't think it was over."

Come on coach, really?

"There's just something about this place," he said.

A little Schaly Stadium magic was unveiled again.

Down 1-0 and with two out in the bottom of the ninth, senior pinch hitter Chris Beatty (Seven Fields, Pa./Hampton) blooped a double down the right-field line to keep Marietta's hopes alive. After freshman Evan Brockmeier came in to pinch run, John Snyder (Altoona, Pa./Altoona) hit a weak grounder between third and short that scooted past Josh Fyffe into left. Brockmeier scored on the play sending the game into extra innings—the fourth game to do so in the Mideast Regional.

In the bottom of the 10th, Behrend starter Ryan Zamiskie (7-1) returned to the mound despite a rising pitch count.

"Ryan was terrific. Honestly, he gave us the best chance to win in the ninth and even in the 10th inning," said Behrend coach Paul Benim. "There was some discussion about pitch counts and should we take him out. But I asked my coaches, 'Do you really think I'm going to get the ball back from Ryan?' "

Probably not. But fatigue was starting to set in and Marietta pounced.

Kirby Becker (South Euclid/St. Ignatius) led off with a single and that was followed by Jordan Thompson's (Quaker City/Buckeye Trail) sacrifice bunt that was mishandled by Zamiskie. With runners at first and second, Marietta's Dan Jones (Lima/Shawnee) laid down another sacrifice bunt that Zamiskie fielded, but threw it over Kyle Kline's head at first allowing Becker to score the winning run.

"I'm not an overly religious person … but I think Coach (Don) Schaly is sitting up there smoking a cigarette and smiling," Brewer said. "We're just living a dream and he's enjoying it."

Overshadowed in the Pioneers' remarkable comeback was the gutsy pitching performance of Zamiskie. He allowed nine hits and struck out three in nine-plus innings. He also threw 153 pitches.

"I think most of it was I was trying to get another game for the seniors. I wanted to get them one or two more games," he said. "I was getting by on pure adrenaline after the seventh inning. The adrenaline was running out, and the fatigue started to set in. My body was starting to tell me I needed to stop."

Zamiskie said he's thrown about 150 pitches before in a summer league game, and he wasn't about to let his coach pull him from this one.

"I probably would have argued a bit. I wanted the game and I wanted to finish the game. I wanted to give it my best shot," he said. "This is probably the best game I've ever thrown by far."

Marietta starter Mike Mahaffey (Worthington/Bishop Watterson) came close to matching him for seven innings. The Lions managed just six hits, but one was a clutch double down the right-field line by Jonathan Gray that scored Rich Doyle in the fifth.

"I definitely came with everything I had because this could be our last game. I needed to show up. Everything felt good," Mahaffey said. "I thought I fooled (Gray) well on the change up and he got the bat head on the ball. I always thought our offense would come through, I just didn't realize it wouldn't happen until two outs in the ninth."

In relief, Mark Williams (Fayetteville/Perry) (6-4) was nearly unhittable over the final three innings. He gave up just one hit and struck out four for the win.

"Our starting pitching has made it a lot easier because we still have some fresh arms," Brewer said.

The Pioneers must win two against Ohio Athletic Conference rival Heidelberg (39-6) on Saturday if they want to reach the NCAA Division III Championship in Grand Chute, Wis., on May 28-June 1.

The championship begins at noon, and if Marietta wins a second game will follow approximately 30 minutes after the conclusion of that game.

Brewer is not sure who has the advantage Saturday.

"It evens out," he said. "The advantage Heidelberg has is it hasn't pitched as many innings. The advantage we have is the games will be at Don Schaly Stadium."