MARS - A day after Rob Ronk beat Freeport with his bat, it was Mike Sheehy's right arm that did the River Pirates in this time.

The veteran right-hander pitched a three-hit shutout while striking out eight as Mars defeated Freeport 3-0 in an Eagle County League semifinal playoff game Thursday at Marburger Field.

The win gives Mars a 2-0 games lead in the best-of-five series.

"I wasn't expecting to throw a shutout tonight," said Sheehy, who also is his team's manager. "But I was throwing strikes and getting in front of the hitters. My goal was to keep them off balance, and I think I did that for the most part."

The last time Sheehy pitched was in a regular season game against Freeport several weeks ago.

"I tried to pitch but ended up taking myself out because the pain in my shoulder was getting worse," he said about that outing.

The pain was due to a torn rotator cuff and labrum in Sheehy's right shoulder.

"I went to the doctor and he said that I'll need surgery," said Sheehy. "In the meantime, he's been giving me cortisone shots. They obviously worked tonight."

Only four Freeport base runners reached second base the entire game.

Mars got all the offense it needed in the bottom of the second inning, when Matt Sondej singled to right, scoring Greg Reinhart and Ryan Salazar.

Sondej added an insurance run in the fifth frame with a solo home run over the right field fence.

"He's one of the younger guys that we've got," Sheehy said. "He had a bit of a rough day in the outfield (Wednesday) and he wanted to make up for it today."

Paul Westwood added three singles in the win.

Tim Buzzard pitched the entire game for Freeport, striking out four and surrendering 10 hits.

Don Dell and Buzzard singled for Freeport and Greg Samson doubled to account for Freeport's only hits of the game.

"We were putting the ball in play, but nothing was falling in," said Freeport manager and first baseman Wayne Greiser.

Freeport's best chance to score came in the last inning.

After one out, Samson doubled to left center ahead of Greiser's walk.

Shortstop Jon Schott hit a sharp grounder to third baseman Greg Reinhart, who stepped on third for a force out and threw across the diamond in an attempt to get Schott at first.

The throw pulled Ron Talik off the bag and Schott was safe.

In the meantime, courtesy runner Bob Smith tried to gain an extra 90 feet by sprinting for third. Talik's throw was on the money and Reinhart applied the tag to end the game.

Just two days ago, Freeport was the No. 1 seed in the playoffs. Now it is one loss away from elimination.

"We just have to take it one game at a time," said Greiser.

Game 3 will be played at 6 p.m. today at Freeport's Swartz Field.

Mike Sikorski, Jason Curry and Steve Hall each homered as Saxonburg rallied for victory over Zelienople at Seneca Valley High School in Game 2 of the Eagle County League semifinals Thursday.Curt Schnur picked up the win, pitching two scoreless innings.Zelienople took an 9-7 lead after five innings before Saxonburg rallied.Curry drove in four runs and Brendan Malone added two doubles and an RBI for Saxonburg, which took a 2-0 lead in the best-of-five series.Bud Profeta homered twice and drove in four runs for Zelie, which will try to stay alive in Game 3, at 6 p.m. today at Highfield.Freeport 000 000 0 - 0 3 0Mars 020 010 x - 3 10 1WP:Mike Sheehy (7 IP) 8 strikeouts, 3 walks.LP:Tim Buzzard (6 IP) 4 strikeouts, 0 walksFreeport (22-6):Greg Samson 2B, Don Dell 1B, Tim Buzzard 1BMars (16-14):Matt Sondej 1B HR 3RBI R, Paul Westwood 3-1B, Ryan Salazar 2-1B RToday:Mars @ Freeport, 6 p.m.Saxonburg 111 403 0 -10 13 1Zelienople 311 310 0 - 9 x xWP:Curt Schnur (2 IP) 2 strikeouts, 0 walks.LP:Wes Bonadio (2 IP) 1 strikeout, 1 walkSaxonburg:Brendan Malone 2-2B, RBI; Mike Sikorski 2B, HR, RBI; Jason Curry 1B, HR, 4-RBI; Steve Hall HR, RBIZelienople:Bud Profeta 2-HR, 4-RBI; Matt Shaffer HR, RBI; Dan Wert 3-1B, RBIToday:Game 3, Zelienople @ Saxonburg (Highfield), 6 p.m.