DEMOREST, Ga. – In a battle of national-ranked traditional Division III powerhouses, No. 1 ranked Marietta College edged No. 6 Rowan University (N.J.) by the score of 6-5 Friday (March 16) evening on the campus of Piedmont College. The Etta Express scored a run in the bottom of the ninth for the win. Marietta improves to 8-3 overall, while Rowan falls to 10-2. [Box Score]

The Pioneers jumped out to an early 2-0 lead with a pair of runs in the bottom of the third inning. Freshman #Andrew Coffey (New York, N.Y./Avon Old Farms)# reached on a one-out single and stole second.

Following a strikeout, senior second baseman #Kirby Becker (South Euclid/St. Ignatius)# was hit by a pitch. Fellow senior #Tim Saunders (Alliance/Alliance)# tripled to the left centerfield wall scoring Coffey and Becker.

Rowan got on the board in the top of the fourth when Marietta starting pitcher #Mike Mahaffey (Worthington/Bishop Watterson)# walked a pair of Prof hitters and then threw a wild pitch moving the runners to second and third. First baseman Sean Kelly knocked in the run with a ground out to Saunders at shortstop.

Marietta responded with a run in the bottom of the fourth and another in the fifth to take a 4-1 lead.

In the fourth, catcher #Alex Toth (Painesville/Notre Dame-Cathedral Latin)# started the inning with a double and then advanced to third on a bunt by #Evan Brockmeier#. Rowan threw the ball away on the bunt allowing Toth to score.

It was a similar scenario for Marietta in the fifth. Becker led off with a double and moved to third on a sacrifice bunt by Saunders. A fielding error by the Rowan third baseman allowed Becker to score.

Mahaffey threw 6.2 strong innings. He allowed one run on four hits. Mahaffey walked six and struck out three. He was pulled with two outs in the seventh inning after walking the bases loaded.

Senior #Logan Lewis (Nashport/Tri-Valley)# came on in relief and got the Pioneers out of the seventh without allowing a run.

The Etta Express extended its lead to 5-1 in the bottom of the seventh. Saunders reached on a one-out walk and then #Aaron Hooper# was hit by a pitch. A passed ball allowed Saunders to move over to third where the Pioneers executed a double steal to score Saunders.

Lewis and the Pioneers appeared to be cruising to an east victory when they retired the first two Rowan batters in the eighth inning.  However, four straight singles plated two runs and cut the lead to two, 5-3.

Marietta went down in order in the bottom of the eighth and the momentum had completely shifted to the Profs.

Lewis started the top of the ninth with a strikeout. Rowan shortstop Marc Magliaro doubled to left center starting another Prof rally.

Third baseman Mark Benak hit a slow roller to Becker at second base. Becker tried to make the great play but threw the ball away at first allowing Magliaro to score and Benak to move into scoring position with the tying run.

Rightfielder Matt Hill stepped to the plate and hit a sharp single up the middle scoring Benak and knotting the score at 5-5. A strikeout and a ground out ended the rally.

Saunders led off the bottom of the ninth for Marietta and hit a shallow fly ball to right field. The Rowan defender had to run a long way to get to the ball and couldn't make the catch as the ball bounced out of his glove. Saunders coasted into second base on the error.

Hopper laid down the sacrifice bunt and Rowan tried to get Saunders at third but he beat the throw. With runners on the corners and no outs, Rowan was forced to pull the infield in on the grass. Hopper took second base on the first pitch to Toth giving Marietta runners at second and third.

Rowan opted not to intentionally walk Toth to load the bases. He proceeded to line a single into right field driving in Saunders with the winning run.

Lewis (2-0) got the win. He threw 2.1 innings and gave up four runs, three earned, on seven hits. Lewis walked one and struck out three.

Curtis Arsi started on the mound for Rowan and went 6.0 innings. He gave up four runs, three earned, on nine hits with one walk and five strikeouts. Brian Rice (1-1) took the loss. Rice pitched 1.0 inning and allowed one unearned run on two hits.

Brockmeier went 4-for-4, while Toth was 2-for-4 with a double and an RBI. Coffey ended the day 2-for-3. Saunders had the two-run triple and Becker had a doible and scored twice.

Marietta plays No. 7 ranked Piedmont College tomorrow. Originally scheduled as a 1 p.m. first pitch, the game has been moved back and will start at 4 p.m.