BUTLER TWP—Zelienople was out of character in Game 5 of the Eagle County League semifinal series finale Friday.

Saxonburg, fighting for its playoff life, was more than happy to take advantage of that situation.

Zelienople, known for its solid defensive play, committed nine errors, including four in a three-run fourth inning that allowed Saxonburg to roll to a 9-1 victory.

With the win, Saxonburg will face top-seeded Mars in Game 1 of a best-of-five championship series, which begins at 6 p.m. Saturday at Marburger Field.

"The guys started getting timid," said Zelienople coach Clayton Pegher. "That's a shame. We had (pitcher) Aaron Wood out there and he threw well. He got absolutely no support.

In an attempt to play Game 5 on Thursday, Zelienople jumped out to a 4-0 lead in the first inning. Saxonburg countered with the bases loaded and one out before lightning and persistent rain canceled the game. The teams had to start anew Friday.

"We were very focused after Thursday," said Saxonburg coach Dan Cunningham. "We had a brief conversation and understand, this is a pretty proud team.

"They don't take losing very lightly, especially after Wednesday, losing by 12 runs. That was a total turnaround," Cunningham added about his team's 12-0 loss that day.

With ideal playing conditions Friday, Zelienople seemed out of sync right off the bat when, with one out in the first inning, Zelie second baseman Matt Babusci misplayed a grounder by Brendan Malone.

Jason Curry followed with an RBI double to give Saxonburg a 1-0 lead.

Saxonburg almost added to its lead in the second when Zelienople committed errors on the first two batters, but a fielder's choice, a strikeout from Wood and a ground out ended the threat.

Saxonburg doubled its lead in the third inning when Austin Leffler blooped a two-out, run-scoring single.

The wheels began to fall off for Zelienople in the fourth inning when Saxonburg plated three runs on just one hit, a Steve Hall home run that opened the frame.

The four errors where tough enough, but Wood had Jeff Foster and Brendan Malone picked off first base, but both runners reached second base safely on the throw.

Through four innings, Wood had allowed only four hits and had four strikeouts and no walks, yet trailed 5-0.

"(Wood) felt really good coming in," said Pegher. "He threw only 48 pitches Wednesday, so it was like a bullpen session. We put it all on the line. We felt our best chance was with him and he threw well."

Zelienople scored its only run of the game in the fifth inning when Bud Profeta led off with a home run.

Wes Bonadio smacked a one-out double, but Saxonburg pitcher Curt Schnur got Babusci to ground out and Mark Weimer struck out end the inning.

In the sixth inning, Saxonburg closed out the scoring with a two-run homer by Curry and a two-run single by Sandy Sanderson.

In a complete-game effort, Schnur struck out four and walked one, scattering seven hits in the process.

"He challenged them and made them hit the ball and let the defense make plays," said Cunningham, whose team did not make an error.

"I love to compete and I wanted to be there for Game 5, to be in every game," said Schnur. "The four runs I gave up (Thursday), I thought of it as 'That's all they were going to get.'"

Notes: Wood finished the game with six strikeouts, two walks and seven hits. ... Schnur received a decision in three of the five games. He was the winning pitcher in Game 1 last Friday and was charged with the loss in a four-inning relief role last Saturday (4-3 in 10 innings).

Zelienople 000 010 0—1 7 9Saxonburg 101 304 x—9 7 0WP: Curt Schnur (7 IP) 4 strikeouts, 1 walk.

LP: Aaron Wood (6 IP) 6 strikeouts, 2 walks

Zelienople: Aaron Wood 1B; Nate Statzer 2-2B; Bud Profeta HR; Matt Shaffer 1B; Wes Bonadio 1B, 2B

Saxonburg: Brendan Malone 1B; Jason Curry 2B, HR, 3 RBI; Curt Schnur 1B; Austin Leffler 1B, RBI; Sandy Sanderson 1B, 2 RBI; Steve Hall HR

Saturday: Saxonburg at Mars, 6 p.m.