Marietta College’s Caden Hall, right, celebrates after hitting a walk-off triple in the Pioneers’ 11-10 win over North Central College Tuesday at Pioneer Park. (Photo by Cathy Marzetz)

Caden Hall laced a two-run walk-off triple past a diving first baseman and into the right field corner as Marietta College defeated North Central College, 11-10, Tuesday afternoon at Pioneer Park. The Pioneers improve to 5-4 overall, while North Central falls to 2-7 on the season.

The Cardinals scored runs in five of the first six innings and held a 6-3 lead heading into the bottom of the eighth. That’s when things got interesting.

Cael Magill led off with a single up the middle. Following a line out, Diego DeCello walked. Cooper Fiehrer pinch hit and lined a single to right center scoring Magill and moving DeCello to second.

North Central changed pitchers and Bryce Bogan greeted the new arm with a line drive off the pitcher’s hip that ricocheted to the third baseman who threw Bogan out at first for the second out. A walk to pinch hitter Gavin Frazier loaded the bases for Nick Bonnizzio. Bonnizzio cleared the bases with a double to the wall in right center putting the Pioneers in front, 7-6.

Marietta was three outs away from victory but the Cardinals were not going away quietly. Vincent Merlo led off with a double. Justin Lang reached on a bunt single and John Michael Scumaci was intentionally walked to load the bases.

Caleb Coberley smacked a triple to right center clearing the bases and giving North Central a 9-7 lead. Jackson Bland drove in Coberley with a double for a 10-7 lead heading into the bottom of the ninth.

North Central put AJ Kutcher on the mound to start the ninth. He walked Magill on four pitches and beaned pinch hitter Shane Rothlisberger. Nolan King replaced Kutcher on the mound and gave up a single to DeCello loading the bases with no outs.

Fiehrer worked a full count walk driving in Magill and chasing King from the game. Jaedin Kotecki took over on the mound and got Bogan to fly out to center. Rothlisberger scored on the sac fly cutting the Cardinal lead to one, 10-9.

Hall stepped to the plate and line a 2-2 pitch past Austin Wienke at first base and into the right field corner. DeCello scored easily and Fiehrer, who started at first base, was waved around by third base coach Chris Tekulve. Fiehrer dove into the plate just before the tag for the winning run.

Forrest Havanis (1-0) got the win throwing the final 2.0 innings. He allowed four runs on five hits with three walks and two strikeouts. Luke Czarnomski made his first start and pitched 2.1 innings giving up four runs on four hits with three walks and three strikeouts. Reece Rupert and Jared Bees each threw in relief before Havanis.

Andrew Bollman started for North Central and threw 6.0 innings and allowed three runs, two earned, on four hits. Six total pitchers toed the rubber for the Cardinals. King (0-2) took the loss allowing two runs on one hit with one walk in 0.0 innings pitched.

Bonnizzio went 2-for-5 five with a double triple, three RBI and one run scored. Magill and DeCello also had two hits apiece. Fiehrer drove in two runs and scored twice, while Hall drove in the final two runs of the game.

Coberley was 3-for-6 with a double, triple, four RBI and two runs scored for the Cardinals. Lang and Henry Saul each had two hits.

Marietta and North Central will play again on Wednesday (Mar. 12) at 3 p.m.