Justin Papania struck out eight and gave up one run on five hits to lift Cranberry Township to a 2-1 win over Natrona Heights Wednesday in the third and final game of a first-round Eagle County League playoff series.

Cranberry advances to play a best-of-five semifinal series at Mars I, which begins at 6 p.m. Friday.

In other action:

• Bud Profeta pitched five strong innings and Mike Killian homered, singled and drove in two runs to lead Zelienople to Game 3 win over Mars II, 3-2.

Zelienople will play Saxonburg in a semifinal series that starts at 6 p.m. Friday at Highfield.

Cranberry Twp. 100 100 0—2 3 1Natrona Hts. 000 010 0—1 5 1WP: Justin Papania (7 IP) 8 strikeouts, 2 walks.

LP: Tokarcyzk (4 IP) 5 strikeouts, 4 walks

Cranberry: Justin Waychoff 1B, Brendan Steiner 1B RBI, Dave Knechtel 2B

Natrona Heights: Bill Wolfe 2-1B

Friday: Cranberry @ Mars I, Game 1 of best-of-five semifinal series

Mars II 000 010 1—2 4 1Zelienople 000 210 x—3 7 1WP: Bud Profeta (5 IP) 1 strikeout, 1 walk.

LP: Leonberg (6 IP) 3 strikeouts, 3 walks

Mars II: BrianHart 2B, RBI

Zelienople: Mike Killian HR, 1B, 2-RBI; Damien Mazzetti 1B, RBI