NILES, Ohio - This was a victory the Auburn Doubledays needed badly and will remember for a long time.

In the top of the ninth, down 6-2, Auburn took a 7-6 lead, allowed the tying run in the bottom of the inning and then rallied in the 12th for a huge 8-7 win over the Mahoning Valley Scrappers on Wednesday night.

The win gives the first-place D-days a 3.5-game lead over the Scrappers in the Pinckney Division.

In the 12th, Darin Mastroianni scored from third on Brad Emaus' ground out. Mastroianni had walked and went to third on Victor Santana's single.

Auburn pitcher Nathan Melek allowed a single in the bottom of the 12th but after a stolen base and a throwing error, stranded the potential tying run at third

In the ninth, Luis Sanchez started the rally with a single and quickly scored on Ben Zeskind's homer that made it 6-4.

Adam Calderone then reached on a dropped catch and later, Manuel Rodriguez singled to chase Scrappers reliever Jon Holt.

Emaus then homered to center off new Scrappers pitcher Vinnie Pestano to give Auburn a 7-6 lead.

But the Scrappers rallied in the bottom of the ninth. Mark Thompson singled against Auburn reliever Cody Crowell.

But Jansy Infante's sacrifice bunt try went awry with Thompson being thrown out at second. Todd Martin singled Infante to third and he scored on Alex Castillo's single to left. Crowell got out of the inning, holding the Scrappers to the lone run.

D-days Today

Record: 35-24

Standings: First place, 3.5-game lead

Streak: 1 win

Next: 2 vs Williamsport, today, 6 p.m.