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TERRE HAUTE, IND. – Adrian College scored three runs in the bottom of the ninth inning to rally from a 7-5 deficit and win the NCAA Division III Mideast Baseball Regional by an 8-7 margin over Heidelberg College on Saturday at Rose-Hulman.

Heidelberg led 7-5 entering the bottom of the ninth, before Nate Sarkissian opened the frame with a single and advanced to second on a hit by pitch.  After a fielder's choice, Steve Vanderheyden singled up the middle to close the Student Princes lead to 7-6.

Brian Bilius, the NCAA Division III Mideast Baseball Regional Most Valuable Player, tied the score at 7-7 with a double down the left field line that advanced Vanderheyden to third base.  Alexander Younce lofted a sacrifice fly to center field near the warning track to help the Bulldogs reach the NCAA Division III National Championship for the first time.

Todd Meyers and Sarkissian led the Adrian offense with three hits each.  Meyers blasted a home run and a double with two RBIs, while Sarkissian scored the ninth inning run.  Vanderheyden and Bilius each stroked two hits in the contest.

Heidelberg jumped out to a 7-5 lead after 4 1/2 innings and held the advantage until the bottom of the ninth.  Jason Lash, an all-tournament team member, led the Student Princes with three hits, two runs scored and two RBIs.  Matt Grassley and Steve Decker each had two hits.

David Paddock and Steve Calevro tossed 4 1/3 scoreless innings to keep Heidelberg ahead entering the final frame.  Alex Webster earned the win for Adrian with four shutout innings and a pair of strikeouts to improve to 8-1 on the season.

Adrian advances to the NCAA Division III Championships and will square off with South Regional champion Johns Hopkins University on Friday.

NCAA Mideast Regional All-Tournament Team:
IF - Brian Bilius, Adrian College (Most Valuable Player)
P - Derek Eitel, Rose-Hulman
P - Adam Samson, College of Wooster
P - Everett Thomas, Heidelberg College
C - Keenan Long, Rose-Hulman
IF - Willie Brechun, Heidelberg College
IF - Jason Lash, Heidelberg College
IF/P - Michael Matsui, Rose-Hulman
IF/P - Bobby Rickstad, Adrian College
IF - Steve Vanderheyden, Adrian College
OF - Stu Beath, College of Wooster