CALLERY — Cranberry played a like a team that was facing elimination.

Cranberry pitcher T.J. Zarewicz gave up just two infield singles and struck out eight and Dave Coradi hit a three-run home run in the top of the second inning to set the tone in an 8-0 win over Mars II at Callery Field Wednesday evening.

Mars II entered the day with a 2-0 lead in the best-of-five Eagle County League semifinal series.

“We played like there was no tomorrow,” said Cranberry player/manager Bill Clinefelter.

Zarewicz made sure there was a tomorrow.

The right-hander was masterful, spotting a deceptive slider down and away that befuddled the Mars II lineup.

Leadoff hitter Darren Blakely was the only one able to solve Zarewicz with two infield singles.

Zarewicz is normally a catcher, but has be asked to pitch in big spots this season.

“We needed a big game against Zelienople (in the first round of the playoffs) and he gave it to us,” Clinefelter said. “We needed some big starts during the season and he gave those to us, too.”

The Cranberry lineup gave its pitcher plenty of support.

Coradi added an RBI single to his three-run homer, T.J. Kuny had three singles and Clayton Bouchard, Tanner Master and Ben Murray also had multi-hit games for Cranberry against Mars II starter Ethan Weiss.

Mars player/manager Eric King could only smile and shrug his shoulders when talking about the Game 3 loss.

“Not much to say after that one,” King said. “We just didn’t come out ready to play tonight. It’s baseball. That happens. You can’t win them all. Their pitcher came out, threw strikes and was aggressive.”

King can take solace in the fact his team is still up 2-1 in the series, which moves back in North Boundary Park for Game 4 today at 6 p.m.

“The good teams are the ones that can bounce back after a game like this,” King said. “I told them we have to be ready to play tomorrow because you want to end it as quick as you can.”

Cranberry is hoping to draw it out to a decisive Game 5. Clinefelter said his team definitely has some momentum.

“We can (win two more),” Clinefelter said. “We played four times in the regular season and split. It can happen. Hopefully momentum in on our side and we can pick up another one tomorrow.”

For Clinefelter and Cranberry, the semifinals have been a big roadblock for the better part of two decades.

“I’ve been running this team for 17, 18 years and we’ve gotten to playoffs 15 or 16 times and to the semis all but one of those times,” Clinefelter said. “And we’ve made the finals twice in all those years. It’s been one of those things where you’re always in the final four but you just can’t get over the hump and get there.

“We were just a couple of points behind (Mars II) in the regular season,” Clinefelter added. “I think it’s been a good, evenly matched series.”

Cranberry 030 001 4 — 8 11 0

Mars II 000 000 0 — 0 2 1

W: T.J. Zarewicz 7IP (8K, 1BB). L: Ethan Weiss 6+IP (1K, 1BB).

Cranberry: Clayton Bouchard 2-1B, Tanner Master 2-1B, Ben Murray 2-1B, T.J. Kuny 3-1B RBI, Dave Coradi HR 4-RBI, Joel Shaffer 1B RBI

Mars II: Darren Blakely 2-1B

Today: Mars II at Cranberry, Game 4, 6 p.m. at North Boundary Park