GRAND CHUTE, Wis. – An errant pickoff attempt by relief pitcher Ryan Adams allowed the eventual winning run to score in the eighth inning Sunday as Marietta College of Ohio posted a 3-2 victory to eliminate the University of Southern Maine from the NCAA Division III Baseball Championship at Fox Cities Stadium.

Coach Ed Flaherty’s Huskies, making their sixth trip to the nationals, finished the season with a 37-14 record. The 37 wins were the third best in USM history.

Southern Maine was held in check by a Marietta pitching staff that had allowed only four runs in its first three games at the tournament. Shaun Richardson singled twice to pace the Huskies.

Marietta took a 2-0 lead in the fourth on Derek Pauley’s two-run double off Pat Liddy. USM countered in the seventh when Andy Lang singled, Brian Marshall double and Jason Dority hit an RBI groundout. Peter L’Italien stroked a run-scoring double.

The Pioneers got the go-ahead run in the eighth when Andy Coble doubled and took third on a single by Dusty Childress. Erik Carlson was lifted in favor of Adams, who threw wide of first on a pickoff try, enabling Coble to score.

Trey Lamb scattered seven hits, striking out nine, for Marietta. He pitched out of a bases-loaded, nobody-out jam in the fourth, posting two strikeouts and inducing an inning-ending come-backer to the mound.

(Sunday’s Game)

Southern Maine (37-14) 000 000 200 – 2 7 1

Marietta (46-8-1) 000 200 01x – 3 12 1

Southwick, Liddy (4), Carlson (7), Adams (8) and L’Italien; Lamb and Coakley

USM loses 1st game, wins 2nd

USM staved off elimination Saturday with a 12-2 romp over Illinois Wesleyan.

Cortland State had beaten the Huskies 10-5 in Friday’s tourney opener.

On Saturday, Mike Russell pitched eight shutout innings in a complete game. Brian Marshall smacked three singles for the Huskies. Pat Toomey and Jody Curcuru each hit a home run.

In Friday’s game, Cory Haggerty ignited a five-run eighth with a two-run triple as Cortland State prevailed.

Richardson hit an RBI single for USM. Marshall added a double.

(Friday’s Game)

Southern Maine 000 103 100 – 5 8 2

Cortland State (34-9) 001 100 35x – 10 10 1

Adams, Liddy (6), Carlson (7), Loveless (8), Pelletier (8) and L’Italien; Howell and Beiz

(Saturday’s Game)

Illinois-Wesleyan (37-15-1) 000 000 002 – 2 7 5

Southern Maine 113 015 10x – 12 15 0

Schilisky, Ward (4), Brock (6), Schilier (7), Zier (8) and Rock; Russell and L’Italien