BUTLER TWP — Bill Stehle always has had a penchant for the big hit, and he displayed it again Monday.

Stehle smacked a two-run homer off Saxonburg pitcher Nate Buttenfield in the sixth inning to erase a 1-0 deficit and to send Cranberry Township off with a 3-1 victory in Game 3 of the Eagle County League semifinals at Butler County Community College.

The win gives Cranberry Township a 2-games-to-1 lead in the best-of-five series. Game 4 will be played at Cranberry's North Boundary Park at 6 p.m. today.

"Bill's come up big a lot," said Cranberry Township manager Bill Clinefelter. "Someone on the bench, I'm not sure who, called it. He's been doing that for a long time."

Stehle, a 15-year league veteran, admitted he was just looking for something to drive. With one out, Ben Follett drew a walk before Stehle crushed the ball over the left-field fence.

"(Buttenfield) was throwing first-pitch curveballs," said Stehle. "He seemed to be struggling. He took the count to 3-1 and he gave me a fastball."

Buttenfield walked Mike Mulvey, then allowed a single to Jim Burry and hit John Hastings with a pitch to load the bases.

A fielder's choice by Greg Miller plated another run for the 3-1 lead.

Buttenfield struggled earlier in the game, walking the bases full in the first inning and allowing a single and another walk in the second inning, but did not surrender a run.

"In the first two innings, Nate couldn't get his shoulder loose," said Saxonburg manager Dan Cunningham. "He had no velocity. His shoulder started to feel better and his arm loosened up.

Cranberry Township pitcher Mike Palano had very little trouble, retiring the first eight batters — four on strikeouts. But he allowed a two-out double to Adam Brydon in the third inning, then Dustin Lalle followed with a run-scoring single.

Palano struck out Sandy Sanderson to end the threat.

Cranberry Township stranded two runners in the fourth inning, which included a leadoff double by Keith Kubit. and one runner in the fifth on a double by Greg Miller but still couldn't score.

"We were hoping to get to (Buttenfield) a little earlier in the game," said Clinefelter. "If he gets in a groove, he might be tough to get to later.

"We've been hitting the ball hard lately. We feel like we can play with anyone. If our bats are going like they are, I like our chances," Clinefelter added.

Saxonburg had chances to add to its 1-0 lead in the fourth and fifth innings, but had a runner tagged out between second and third base.

"We made terrible baserunning mistakes twice," said Cunningham. "That probably cost us at least one run."

Palano finished with seven strikeouts and two walks in going the distance.

"There's no one I'd rather want more there than Mike," said Clinefelter.

Cranberry Twp. 000 003 0 — 3 6 0Saxonburg 001 000 0 — 1 5 0W: Mike Palano 7 IP (7K, 2BB).

L: Nate Buttenfield 6 IP (4K, 6BB).

Cranberry Twp. (23-11-1): Jim Burry 1B; Greg Miller 2B; Keith Kubit 2B; Bill Stehle 1B, HR, 2 RBI; Mike Mulvey 1B

Saxonburg (21-11-1): Dustin Lalle 2-1B, RBI; Adam Hartwig 1B; Adam Brydon 1B, 2B

Today: Saxonburg at Cranberry Twp. (North Boundary Park)