CALLERY — Mars II was running out of time.

The Eagle County League's No. 3 seed had stranded six runners on base in the first four innings — including leaving the bases loaded in the second frame — in the third and deciding game of a first-round playoff series against Freeport Wednesday at Callery Field.

Trailing 2-1, the home team busted out by scoring seven runs on just three hits in the sixth inning and went on to post an 8-4 win.

The victory sends Mars II to the best-of-5 semifinal round, where it will face Saxonburg, beginning Friday.

“We definitely would have been disappointed to lose this early in the playoffs,” said Mars II player/manager Ryan Leonberg.

The first two batters in the bottom of the sixth inning — Gabe Stephenson and Leonberg — reached on a hit-batsman and walk from Freeport's Shawn Schwarz, respectively.

Ryan O'Conner and Nick Comport then hit back-to-back singles, the second scoring Stephenson to tie the game.

With the bases loaded and one out, Ryan Ganter hit a ground ball to Freeport shortstop Matt Simoni, whose throw home was wide, skipped to the backstop and allowed O'Conner to score.

Nick Rossmiller was hit by a pitch, scoring another run and ending Schwarz's outing.

James Connelly took the mound and was greeted with John Crummy's grand slam to right, putting Mars II up 8-2.

“I thought he (Schwarz) did a good job tonight, especially earlier in the game with runners on base,” said Freeport player/manager Kevin Rayburn. “Mars II had scoring opportunities in the first few innings, but Shawn was able to get out of it. He was getting tired there at the end and that's why I made the move. Who would have known that he (Crummy) would swing at a 3-0 pitch and hit a grand slam?”

Freeport did manage a bit of a rally in its final at-bat.

Mars II starter and eventual winning pitcher Tyler Dean walked C.J. Stolarski to begin the top of the seventh and then gave up a single to Ryan Dzanaj.

Schwarz followed with another base hit that would have loaded the bases, but two runs scored following a fielding error in the outfield.

Schwarz made it to third base on the miscue and, with Matt Pitchsman batting, tried to score on a wild pitch from Dean.

Crummy sprinted toward the backstop from his catcher's position, picked the ball up and came back to home plate to make the tag for the all-important first out.

Freeport's rally fizzled, as Dean retired both Pitchsman and Simoni to end the game.

“John did a nice job of getting back there and making that play,” said Leonberg. “It could have been a 3-run game with no outs.”

Dean threw 107 pitches in the game, 66 for strikes.

“I was getting a little tired there at the end, but with the lead that we had, I wanted to finish,” he said.

Freeport had scored a run in the top of the sixth to take a 2-1 lead.

Simoni walked, stole second and scored on Connelly's base hit.

“This loss is very tough to take,” said Rayburn, “especially when we had the opportunity to get out of the situation (in the sixth). “It was a hard-fought season and our guys battled.”

Freeport 100 001 2 — 4 6 2

Mars II 000 017 x — 8 6 3

W: Tyler Dean 7 IP (7K, 3BB). L: Shawn Schwarz 5 1/3 IP (3K, 5BB).

Freeport (13-19-4): Shawn Schwarz 1B 2B, Matt Pitchsman 1B, Matt Simoni R, C.J. Stotler RBI, James Connelly 2-1B RBI, C.J. Stolarski R, Ryan Dzanaj 1B R, Kevin Rayburn R

Mars II (24-12-1): Eric King 1B 2R, Ryan Ganter R, Nick Rossmiller R RBI, John Crummy GSHR, Matt Rovnan 1B, Gabe Stephenson 2B R, Ryan O'Conner 1B R, Nick Comport 1B R RBI

Friday: Mars II vs. Saxonburg at BC3