BUTLER TWP — Just as Saxonburg was starting to make its move, Mars countered back.

In Game 2 of the Eagle County Baseball championship series, Saxonburg trimmed a 4-0 deficit to 4-3 and opened the sixth inning with a single, but Mars' Phil Shallenberger relieved Brian Zima and would clamp down any Saxonburg rallies in a 5-3 victory at BC3 Field.

The win gives Mars a 2-0 lead in the best-of-5 series. Game 3 will be played at 6 p.m. today at Marburger Field.

“At some point, Saxonburg started hitting the ball,” Mars manager Rob Fester said. “I don't know if Brian was getting tired. He never said anything, but we just wanted to change things up. It just seemed like the right time.”

After Evan Oswald opened with a single off Zima, Shallenberger induced Ryan Fennell to ground into a fielder's choice, then hit Zane Voltz to put runners at first and second.

Josh Smith then hit a grounder back to Shallenberger, who picked up the ball off a deflection and threw to third to record the second out, then got Steve Hall to hit a soft liner to first to end the threat.

Mars added an insurance run in the top of the seventh inning when Shallenberger opened with a single, moved to second base on a sacrifice bunt, stole third and scored on pinch-hitter Dan Berty's single.

“That really hurt,” Saxonburg manager Dan Cunningham said. “That takes some of the strategy away.”

Saxonburg's Brandon Wissinger led off the seventh with a single, but Cullen Hinderliter's grounder was scooped up by Mars shortstop Nate Statzer, who stepped on second and threw to first to complete the double play.

Shallenberger then struck out Dustin Hilgar to end the game.

“(Shallenberger) changed speeds,” Cunningham said. “When you change speed, you change delivery, it can make a difference. Sometimes you need to see someone the second time around, like with Brian.”

Zima limited Saxonburg to one hit over the first three innings while Mars had built a 4-0 lead after its turn in the fourth inning.

In the second inning, a fielder's choice off the bat of Don Dell plated Matt Colella, who started the frame as the first of three consecutive walks by Saxonburg's Mick Fennell.

Mike Bruno's two-out RBI single in the third inning and Dell's two-run single in the fourth allowed Mars to open up the four-run advantage.

Fennell had five of his seven walks through the first four innings.

“Those walks were really tough and came back to hurt us,” Cunningham said. “Mick's probably never walked three batters in a row, ever.

“I give him credit because for him to do what he's able to do ... he just finished high school. He's going to be a great ballplayer. This was a big game for him. He did keep us in the game. We had our chances,” Cunningham added.

That started happening in the fourth inning when, after one out, Mick Fennell and Oswald hit consecutive triples, then Oswald scored on a groundout by Ryan Fennell.

Zane Voltz followed with a double before Mars right fielder Sam Sibeto made a diving catch off a Smith fly ball to close out the frame.

Mars put the first two runners on base to start the fifth inning, but could not get a run across. It marked the third time in the game that Mars stranded two baserunners.

Saxonburg pulled to within one in the fifth when Steve Hall hit a leadoff double, then following a pair of fly-outs, Hilgar singled and Dustin Lalle followed with a run-scoring single.

Still, Zima was able to keep Saxonburg from taking the lead.

“Brian pitches best in big games. He always has,” Fester said. “I have the utmost confidence in him. I'm always nervous when the game doesn't mean as much. Some guys have 'it'... that thing.”

Mars will try to wrap up its third consecutive title with a win Wednesday while Saxonburg will continue to battle, as expected.

“The third one is always the toughest,” Fester said. “We'll try to stay focused.”

Mars 011 200 1 — 5 7 0

Saxonburg 000 210 0 — 3 9 0

W: Brian Zima 5+ IP (1K, 0BB). L: Mick Fennell 7 IP (4K, 7BB).

Mars: Nate Statzer 1B; Mike Bruno 1B, RBI; Paul Westwood 1B; Don dell 1B, 3 RBI; Phil Shallenberger 1B; Joel Gatti 2B; Dan Berty 1B, RBI

Saxonburg: Dustin Lalle 1B, RBI; Mick Fennell 3B; Evan Oswald 1B, 3B, RBI; Ryan Fennell RBI; Zane Voltz 2B; Steve Hall 1B, 2B; Brandon Wissinger 1B; Dustin Hilgar 1B

Today: Saxonburg at Mars, 6 p.m.