ADAMS TWP — It's not easy being a pitcher against the Mars I lineup.

In the one through nine spots — and sometimes one through 10 — in the batting order, the team trots slugger after slugger to the dish.

But for eight innings, Mars II pitcher Brian Hart was up to the task, mixing a moving fastball with a curve and a sinking knuckleball.

Still, after eight innings Friday, nothing was decided at Marburger Field in Game 1 of the the Eagle County League baseball semifinal series as Mars I and Mars II played to a 5-all deadlock before the game was suspended because of darkness.

The game will resume at 5 p.m. Saturday at Marburger Field in the top of the ninth inning. Game 2 will follow.

Mars I player-coachRob Fester didn't seem pleased the game was suspended.

"I really don't want to talk about this game because it's not over," Fester said.

Mars II got to Mars I starter Chris Kelly for three runs in the first inning on just one hit. Kelly walked three and hit a batter in the opening frame.

But he settled down to allow just two runs, one unearned, on four hits over the final five innings of his outing.

MattColella relieved Kelly and pitched two scoreless innings.

But Hart was masterful at times against one of the most feared lineups in the Eagle County League.

He struck out four and scattered seven hits over eight innings.

The big blow against Hart came in the bottom of the fifth inning when Dan DeMarco hit a Marburger Special — a home run that cleared the fence 300 feet down the right-field line.

"That happens here," said Mars II player-manager Josh Rape. "Any other field, that's an out."

The home run put Mars I up 4-3, but Mars II responded in the top of the sixth inning with an RBIsingle byRandy Schuetz past a diving PaulWestwood at third base.

The ball skipped past left fielder Matt Nowaczynski as well, allowing an additional run to score that Mars II a 5-4 lead.

Mars I answered with a run of its own in the bottom of the sixth inning, as Nowaczynski redeemed himself with an RBI single to tie the score.

That sets the stage for a huge day for both teams Saturday.

Hart will not return to pitch, but Rape will go with Scott Jordan to finish the first game and start the second game. Rape said he would relieve Jordan at some point in Game 2.

"It will be nice to walk away with two games (Saturday)," Rape said. "That first one is huge. If we win that one, it will give us a lot of momentum going into the second game."

• Josh Marchinoski struck out 11, walked one and shut out Natrona Heights on one hit in Saxonburg's 2-0 win in the first game of the teams' best-of-five semifinal series Friday.

Austin Leffler homered for Saxonburg, which turned three double plays on defense.

Natrona Hts. 000 000 0—0 1 2Saxonburg 000 002 x—2 6 1W: Josh Marchinoski 7IP (11 K, 1 BB).

L: Ben Smith 6IP (0 K, 4 BB).

Natrona Heights (19-15): Al Klimkowski 1B

Saxonburg (20-9-1): Austin Leffler 1B HR, Adam Brydon 2-1B RBI, Steve Hall 1B, Brendan Malone 1B

Saturday: Game 2 at Highlands High field, 6 p.m.