Michael Wert's RBI single in the bottom of the 10th inning led host Zelienople to a thrilling 8-7 victory over Saxonburg Saturday to even their Eagle County Baseball best-of-five semifinals series to one game apiece.

Nathan Statzer had a home run, three singles and five RBI to power Zelienople while Jason Curry and Austin Leffler each homered for Saxonburg.

Both teams rapped out 16 hits apiece.

Game 3 will be played at 6 p.m. today at Highfield.

n Mars scored 36 runs in the first two games of the other semifinal series to take a 2-0 lead.

On Friday, Mars defeated Cranberry Township in a five-inning game 19-7 in Game 1 of the other semifinal series. That was followed by a 17-4 triumph Saturday.

Matt Colella, Rob Arata, Paul Westwood, Greg Reinhart and Ryan Salazar drove in two runs apiece for Mars in the first game.

Garrett Steiner and Brendan Steiner both homered for Cranberry Township.

Rob Fester got the win in Game 2, scattering seen hits in the five-inning contest. Mike Sheehy had two singles a double and five RBIwhile Ron Talik added three singles.

Game 3 is at 6 p.m. today at Marburger Field.

Saxonburg 210 211 000 0—7 16 0Zelienople 004 030 000 1—8 16 0WP: Aaron Wood (6 IP) 4 strikeouts, 1 walk.

LP: Curt Schnur (4 IP) 4 strikeouts, 2 walks

Saxonburg: Jason Curry HR, 2 RBI; Austin leffler 1B, 2B, HR: xxx xxx xxx xxx xxx xxx xxx

Zelienople: Nathan Statzer HR, 3-1B, 5 RBI; Damien Mzzetti 1B, 2B, 2 RBI; Matt Babusci 1B, 2B

Friday's Game 1Cranberry Twp. 124 00x x—7 9 2Mars 344 08x x—19 14 1WP: Brian Zima (5 IP) 5 strikeouts, 2 walks.

LP: McCartney (3 IP) 3 strikeouts, 4 walks

Cranberry Township: Garrett Steiner HR, RBI; Brendan Steiner HR, RBI; Ben Follett 3-1B, RBI; Shane Patsilevas 2-1B, 2B, RBI; Chris Dubensky 2-1B, 2 RBI

Mars: Matt Colella 2-1B, 3 R, 2 RBI; Rob Arata 2-1B, 2 RBI; Paul Westwood 1B, 2B, 2 RBI; Greg Reinhart 1B, HR, 2 RBI; Ron Talik 3-1B, RBI; Ryan Salazar HR, 3 R, 2 RBI; Chip Galaska 2B, 4 R, 3 RBI

Saturday's Game 2Mars 042 29x x—17 18 1Cranberry Twp. 102 10x x—4 7 2WP: Rob Fester (5 IP) 2 strikeouts, 2 walks.

LP: Knechtel (5 IP) 6 strikeouts, 7 walks

Cranberry Township: Waychoff 2-1B 2-RRBI, Knechtel 2B 2-RBI, Patsilevas 2-1B

Mars (27-2): Mike Sheegy 2-1B 2B2-R 5-RBI, Greg Reinhart 1B 2BRBI, Ron Talik 3-1B 2-RRBI, Ryan Salazar 2-1B 2-RRBI, Shawn Nething 1BRBI