FREEPORT — Freeport's Eagle County League baseball team is still alive, thanks to a superb defensive play.

With his team leading Saxonburg 6-4 with two outs in the top of the seventh inning of Game Three of the league semifinals Saturday at Swartz Field, Freeport centerfielder Carter Haponski fielded a base hit off the bat of Adam Hartwig.

Sandy Sanderson scored easily from third base to cut Freeport's lead to 6-5, but Haponski launched a bullet toward home plate in an attempt to get Brandon Wissinger, who began the play leading off of second base.

The throw was on line, but Freeport pitcher Ryan Clark cut the ball off before turning and firing it into catcher Jordan Moore, who tagged out Wissinger to end the game.

"I saw (Wissinger) rounding third and I just wanted to keep the ball low," said Haponski. "It's more comfortable to win a game on offense, but our guys fought hard and if you have to make a play at the end on defense, we'll take it."

The victory keeps Freeport's season alive, as the team now trails Saxonburg in the best-of-five series, 2-1. Game Four will be played tonight at 6 p.m. at Swartz Field.

Saxonburg's Brendan Malone had cut his team's deficit to 6-4 earlier in the seventh inning with a one-out, solo home run to right field.

With two outs Sanderson walked, followed by singles from Curt Schnur and Brad Cottage to load the bases.

Wissinger had entered to pinch run for Schnur.

"Wissinger has good speed and we knew they were going to challenge our outfield if the ball was hit there," said Freeport player/coach Wayne Greiser. "It was a great throw, but I got nervous when (Clark) cut it off."

Freeport had broken a 3-3 tie with three runs in the bottom of the sixth inning against Saxonburg starter and losing pitcher Sean O'Donnell.

Luke Westerman drew a bases-loaded walk with one out to make it 4-3 before Haponski was hit by a pitch to score another run.

Jeff Kauffman scored on an errant pickoff attempt for Freeport's final run, and, in the end, the winning run.

"Sean looked good tonight in a few innings, but he just ran out of gas in the end," said Saxonburg player/coach Steve Hall of his pitcher.

Clark, whose relay throw home was as important as any pitch he threw in the game, earned the win by striking out six and walking three. He also surrendered eight hits, four of them in the final inning.

Luke Westerman, the No. 10 hitter in Freeport's lineup, drove in three runs, including the RBI he received with his walk in the seventh.

He also hit a two-run double in the fourth frame, which put Freeport ahead 3-1.

Saxonburg answered with a pair of runs in the top of the fifth when Dustin Lalle scored on Brendan Malone's double and Malone later scored on Dan Pickard's groundout.

Saxonburg 010 020 2 — 5 8 1Freeport 100 203 x — 6 10 1W: Ryan Clark (7 IP) 6 K, 3 BB.

L: Sean O'Donnell (6 IP) 5 K, 5 BB.

Saxonburg (24-8-1): Brendan Malone 2B HR 2R 2RBI, Dan Pickard RBI, Sandy Sanderson R, Curt Schnur 2-1B, Brad Cottage 2-1B, Adam Hartwig 1B RBI, Adam Brydon 1B RBI, Dustin Lalle R, Brandon Wissinger R

Freeport (23-11-1): Carter Haponski 1B R RBI, Aaron Brown 1B, Dan Penberthy 1B RBI, Wayne Greiser 1B 2R, Jordan Moore 1B R, Ryan Clark 2-1B R, Jeff Kauffman 2-1B R, Luke Westerman 2B 3RBI

Today: Saxonburg at Freeport, Game 4 at Swartz Field, 6 p.m.