YPSILANTI, Mich.-  The 15th-ranked UIndy baseball team punched its ticket to the NCAA Division II Championship Sunday with a 9-6, extra inning victory against Rockhurst in the Midwest Regional final, held at Oestrike Stadium in Ypsilanti, Mich.  The comeback win gave the Greyhounds (46-14) their first regional crown in 12 years.

In their fourth postseason meeting in the last eight days, the teams combined to score eight of the game's 15 runs in the eighth inning or later, as both clubs overcame late deficits.  

After trailing for the first seven innings, UIndy took its first lead of the day with three tallies in the eighth.  The big hit came off Scott Lawley's bat, as the junior found a hole on the right side to score a pair.

The Hounds maintained a 6-4 edge heading into the bottom of the ninth, but Rockhurst third baseman/pitcher Josh Samuelson notched a clutch two-out double to tie the game and force extras.

UIndy came right back with a three spot in the 10th, as senior Matt Maringer's RBI single plated Lawley with the game-winning run.  Senior Nate Koontz added some insurance with a two-run single to cap the scoring at 9-6.

After being charged with a blown save in the ninth, senior pitcher Donovan Drake came out for the 10th and promptly got the final three outs.  Drake (9-2), who also got a complete-game win in the NCAA opener, struck out six in three innings to earn his ninth "W" of the year.

Junior Ryan Wides, who had three hits in the championship game, finished the tourney 10-for-17 (.588) at the plate and was named the Midwest Regional MVP.  Brandon Stevens, Mike Page, Tyler O'Daniel, Scott Mourey and Drake also made the all-tournament team.  Click here to view the entire all-tourney team.

UIndy will be joined by the seven other regional champs at the 2012 NCAA D-II Championship, held in Cary, N.C., May 26-June 2.  This marks the team's second-ever appearance at the championship.  The Hounds notched a pair of wins at the 2000 tournament on the way to a third-place finish.