MARS — One source of power was missing from Mars' lineup.

But Dan Penberthy remained.

Mars' cleanup hitter launched a two-out pitch over the left-field fence in the bottom of the fifth inning to account for the deciding run in a 3-2 victory over Cranberry Township Saturday at Mars Boro Field.

The win gives Mars a one-game-to-none lead in the best-of-five Eagle County League championship series.

Bob Spithaler, Mars' No. 3 hitter, was unable to attend Game 1. He and Penberthy both homered in a Game 3 semifinal win over Pine-Richland on Wednesday.

“We were relying a lot on Dan today. We were a bit thin,” said Mars player/manager Brendan Malone. “That home run was huge. It's not as easy to hit home runs in the playoffs because you're facing better pitchers.”

Cranberry threatened to tie the game in the top of the seventh. Bill Clinefelter singled for the third time in the game and pinch runner Mike Patsch moved to second on Clayton Bouchard's sacrifice bunt. But Mars reliever Jim Devine, who had worked a perfect sixth frame, got T.J. Kuny to fly out and Brandon Pouch to ground out to cap the victory.

Mars (28-2-1) and Cranberry (24-4-1) were the No. 1 and 2 seed, respectively, entering the playoffs.

“This was a good, quality game,” said Clinefelter, Cranberry's player/manager. “It took less than two hours and this is what we expected. The whole series should be nip and tuck.”

Penberthy's blast came against Cranberry pitcher Steve Anderson, who was pressed into a starting role because of the team's shortage of pitchers.

“He's normally an outfielder for us,” said Clinefelter. “This was only the third time all season that he has pitched. Our plan was to get a couple of innings out of him, then show them (Mars) some different looks with some other guys. Luckily, we didn't have to do that. Steve went the whole game and we were able to save some arms.”

Both Anderson and Mars starter Greg Frederick squeezed out of jams during the game.

The former walked the first two batters in the bottom of the first — Rick Krist and Jim Musgrave — but exited the frame with no damage on the scoreboard.

With the game tied at 1-1 in the fourth, Anderson loaded the bases by giving up a single and a walk and hitting a batter. Matt Johnston then drew a bases-loaded walk to drive in Penberthy, but Mars left the bases loaded thanks to a superb diving catch by Bouchard in center field.

Frederick experienced his own tense moments. With the bases loaded and no outs in the top of the fourth, Pouch scored on a fielder's choice from Joel Shaffer, but the team managed nothing more.

In the fifth, Pouch drove in courtesy runner Branden Schlick with a single, but Frederick stranded runners at first and second.

“Greg is one of our big-game guys,” said Malone. “He was a great pick-up for us last year. As soon as a guy gets to second base, he bears down and looks for a strikeout.”

Frederick earned the win by striking out six and walking one in five innings.

Mars broke the ice with a run in the bottom of the second. Garett Goslaw led off with a double, advanced to third on Scott Ventura's groundout and scored when Johnston hit a sacrifice fly.

Cranberry will look to even the series in Game 2, which will be played at 6 p.m. Monday at North Boundary Park.

Cranberry Twp. 000 110 0 — 2 8 0

Mars 010 110 x — 3 4 0

W: Greg Frederick 5 IP (6K, 1BB). L: Steve Anderson 6 IP (4K, 4BB). S: Jim Devine 2 IP (1K, 0BB).

Cranberry Township (24-4-1): T.J. Kuny 1B, Brandon Pouch 2-1B R RBI, Reed Tomlinson 1B, Dave Coradi 1B, Joel Shaffer RBI, Bill Clinefelter 3-1B, Branden Schlick R

Mars (28-2-1): Dan Penberthy 1B HR 2R, Garett Goslaw 2B R, Matt Johnston 2RBI, Joe Sibeto 1B

Monday: Mars vs. Cranberry Township, Game 2 at North Boundary Park, 6 p.m.