It was supposed to be a low-scoring, high-stakes showdown between two pitching aces.

Instead, it was a run-filled exercise of survival.

Mars survived.

Knoch didn't.

The Planets (10-4, 9-2) banged out 16 hits to secure at least a share of the WPIAL Section 5-AAA title in a wild, 15-8 win over the Knights Wednesday afternoon at Kelly Automotive Park.

Knoch (11-5, 9-3) can still share the section crown with Mars should the Planets stumble at home today against Highlands.

“Help remind me of everything that went on in this game,” quipped Mars coach Andy Bednar. “I forget.”

Here you go, coach:

Seven pitchers were used.

There were eight errors committed between the two teams.

There were nine wild pitches uncorked.

There were more combined runs scored than points the two school's football teams put on the board in their last two meetings (14-7 Knoch in 2014 and 21-0 Mars in 2015).

There were 16 walks issued.

Mars No. 9 hitter Isaiah Johnson, best known for his football exploits for the Planets, went 4-for-4 with two RBI.

And 12 of the 14 batters who led off an inning reached base, including all seven for the Knights.

“Baseball,” said Knoch coach George Bradley. “Funny game.”

Alex Stobert, Knoch's ace, lasted just 1 1/3 innings. He was chased after Brandon Wetherholt launched a three-run home run over the right field wall to give Mars a 6-1 lead.

Wetherhold was just the third high school player to hit a home run over the wall at The KAP this season.

“Stobert's a great pitcher and our guys did a really good job early in the game taking him deep into counts and we got some pitches to hit,” Bednar said. “We were fortunate to get some runs early.”

All nine players in the Planets' lineup scored at least one run with Dylan Rotz scoring three times and collecting three singles.

Zarek Simkovich also had three hits, including a double against a quartet of Knoch pitchers (Stobert, Jeremy Frazier, Jake Herrit and Dom Bucko).

Mars starting pitcher David Anderson managed to gut his way through five innings, striking out five, walking six and giving up six runs — only two earned.

“One thing David will always do is David will give you all he has,” Bednar said. “Today he didn't have his best stuff and his command wasn't where it normally is, but he battled and he got us to the sixth inning.”

Knoch trimmed the Mars lead to 7-4 after three innings and 9-5 after four, but a five-run fifth for the Planets put the game out of reach.

Simkovich relieved Anderson and didn't get an out before yielding to Nico Romano, who managed to work out of trouble twice to secure the win for Mars.

“Nico came in and threw strikes,” Bednar said. “That's what we knew we'd get with Nico.

“We just kept building and building on the lead,” Bednar added. “I knew with our guys not throwing strikes we were going to need a lot of runs to win this game today.”

It's the first section title for Mars since 2012.

The Planets can win it outright with a win against Highlands today.

“One of the things I really preach to the kids is that they control their own destiny,” Bednar said. “They didn't need help from any other teams.”

Mars will need some help from some junior varsity arms.

With his pitching staff taxed, Bednar said he may have to rely on untested reinforcements today.

“We have some JV guys ready to go and other guys ready to go as well,” Bednar said. “Whatever it takes to win the game.”

Knoch didn't have one key reserve against Mars.

Bradley confirmed that left-handed pitcher Cole Shinsky is out for the season with a shoulder injury.

The injury will not require surgery, Bradley said, but Shinsky won't be cleared to resume throwing again for at least another six weeks.

Shinsky will attend Ohio University next season.

“I've been trying to keep it under the radar,” Bradley said. “The top priority with all these kids, especially those moving on, is their health. He has a SLAP tear (a tear in the labrum). The days he missed he was getting an MRI. In six weeks, he'll be fine.”

Bradley is hoping his team will be fine much sooner.

Knoch has three more post-section games before the WPIAL playoffs begin May 16.

“We can take this into the playoffs thinking we're terrible,” Bradley said. “No. It was just a baseball game and it just wasn't our day. If you follow baseball, you know it happens. Unfortunately, it happened at the wrong time.”

Mars 061 250 1 — 15 16 4

Knoch 103 102 1 — 8 9 4

W: Dave Anderson 5IP (5K, 6BB). L: Alex Stobert 1.1IP (1K, 1BB).

Mars (10-4, 9-2): Brandon Wetherholt HR 3-RBI, Zarek Simkovich 2B 2-1B 2-RBI, Jack Anderson 1B, Dave Anderson 2-1B RBI, Dylan Rotz 3-1B RBI, Nico Romano 1B, Anthony Michalski 1B 2-RBI, Isaiah Johnson 4-1B 2-RBI

Knoch (11-5, 9-3): Dom Bucko 2-1B, P.J. Gourley 2-1B 2-RBI, Mike McCarty 1B 2B RBI, Nick Guercio 1B, Logan Hickey RBI, Dylan Swarmer 2-1B

Today: Highlands at Mars

Friday: Knoch at Butler at Kelly Automotive Park