BUTLER TWP — Sometimes, you have to scratch out a run here or there in hopes of waiting for the big hit later in the game.

That's the exact formula Saxonburg used in Game 3 of the Eagle County League semifinal series against Zelienople Tuesday.

Saxonburg had one run and one hit in each of the first four innings before a bases-clearing double by Justin Demek in the fifth pushed Saxonburg to a 7-1 victory, giving the team a 2-1 lead in the best-of-five series.

"They all add up," said Saxonburg coach Dan Cunningham. "Sometimes you have to play small ball. We had runners on base several times, but they made some good defensive plays."

Saxonburg managed just six hits in six innings off Zelienople pitcher Bud Profeta but benefitted from four walks, four hit batsmen and three wild pitches.

"That's been a recurring theme for us," said Zelienople coach Clayton Pegher. "If we have six walks, then five of them score."

Nate Buttenfield kept the Zelienople bats at bay, allowing four hits — all singles — with two coming over the first six innings. He struck out six batters and walked one.

"Brendan Malone got things going for Saxonburg in the first when he singled, stole second and advanced to third base on a throwing error. Jeff Foster then grounded out to score Malone.

In the second, Demek's one-out bloop single brought home Austin Leffler for Saxonburg's second run. Later, with runners at second and third, Profeta got Dan Pickard to pop out and Malone to ground out to end the threat.

Zelienople cut the lead in half in the third when, with one out, Dan Binder walked and Aaron Wood followed with a single off Buttenfield's leg.

Nathan Statzer hit into a fielder's choice at second, but an errant throw to first allowed Binder to score.

Austin Leffler and Malone had two-out RBI doubles in the third and fourth innings, respectively, to open a 4-1 lead.

In the fifth, however, Saxonburg finally broke the game open with Demek's three-run double with two outs, which closed out the game's scoring.

Game 4 will be played at 6 p.m. today at Seneca Valley High School. The pitching matchup appears to be Scott Rice for Saxonburg and Wood for Zelienople.

A win by Saxonburg will send the team into the best-of-five championship series against Mars while Zelienople needs to win the next two games to reach the finals.

Zelienople 001 000 0—1 4 1Saxonburg 111 130 x—7 6 2WP: Nate Buttenfield (7 IP) 6 strikeouts, 1 walk.

LP: Bud Profeta (6 IP) 0 strikeouts, 4 walks

Zelienople: Aaron Wood 1B; Nathan Statzer 1B; Bud Profeta 1B; Matt Schaffer 1B

Saxonburg: Brendan Malone 1B, 2B, RBI; Jeff Foster RBI; Austin Leffler 1B, 2B, RBI; Justin Demek 1B, 2B, 4 RBI

Today: Saxonburg vs. Zelienople at Seneca Valley High School, 6 p.m.