CALLERY — Baseball teams often talk of being on a roll offensively.

For Saxonburg's Eagle County League squad, it's the pitching that is grabbing the headlines.

Right-hander Cullen Hinderliter hurled a complete game in his team's 12-2 victory over Mars II at Callery Field Thursday, clinching the best-of-five semifinal series three games to one.

It was the third straight complete game managed by Saxonburg's stable of pitchers. Sean O'Donnell (Game 2) and Mick Fennell (Game 3) accomplished the feat earlier in the week.

The championship series begins Monday and Saxonburg will face the winner of tonight's deciding Game 5 between Mars and Cranberry Township.

Hinderliter, who won Game 2 with a three-run home run in the seventh inning Tuesday, did all of his damage from the mound Thursday.

He limited Mars II to just three hits, while striking out six and walking three.

He had a shutout in his sights until Phil Double smacked a two-run home run in the bottom of the seventh frame.

“I was out of gas and the only reason I went out for the seventh was to get a shutout,” Hinderliter said.

When asked if he prefers winning a game at the plate or from the mound, Hinderliter quipped, “Any way it comes, I'll take it. I just want to win.”

His counterpart, Mars II's Weston Hillegas, pitched well over the first two innings. But Saxonburg got to him in the third inning and he struggled for the rest of his outing.

Mick Fennell's two-run double in the third was followed by Zane Voltz's two-run single in the next inning for a 4-0 lead.

Hillegas failed to retire any of the first five batters in the fifth — which included two base hits, two walks and a runner reaching on a fielding error — and he was relieved by Double. Saxonburg scored four more runs in the inning to take a commanding 8-0 lead.

“I think he wore out a bit,” Mars II manager Ryan Leonberg said of Hillegas. “He didn't have the stamina he normally does, just because of all the games we've been playing.”

In the meantime, Hinderliter was rolling through Mars II's lineup. In the first six innings, he allowed just six baserunners and two of those came via errors.

“His breaking ball was unbelievable tonight,” said Saxonburg manager Dan Cunningham. “He was throwing it for strikes, so they had to swing at it. Then, he was following it up with good inside fastballs.”

“I kind of pitched backwards tonight,” admitted Hinderliter. “I started off (at-bats) with off-speed stuff. I can throw a fastball, curveball, slider and change-up with confidence.”

Cunningham also likes how his offense is performing entering the championship series.

Mick and Ryan Fennell both had two hits in the win, while Dustin Lalle singled three times.

“Voltz, Lalle and Andy Fritz have really been hitting the ball well for us,” Cunningham said.

Mars II finishes the 2012 season with an overall record of 22-17.

“This game was not an indication of how we played this year,” said Leonberg. “Give credit to Saxonburg, they took three in a row from us.

“We've got a lot of good, young players and hopefully, we can keep it together for years to come.”

Saxonburg 002 240 4 — 12 11 2

Mars II 000 000 2 — 2 3 5

W: Cullen Hinderliter 7IP (6K, 3BB). L: Weston Hillegas 4+IP (6K, 4BB).

Saxonburg (27-8): Dustin Lalle 3-1B R RBI, Mick Fennell 1B 2B R 3RBI, Evan Oswald R, Ryan Fennell 2-1B RBI, Josh Smith 2R, Steve Hall 1B R RBI, Dustin Hilgar 1B R, Zane Voltz 1B 2R 2RBI, Andy Fritz 1B R, Sean O'Donnell 1B R RBI, Ryan Letzelter R

Mars II (22-17): Anthony Sklarsky 1B, Matt Rovnan 1B R, Phil Double HR 2RBI

Monday: Saxonburg vs. Mars/Cranberry Township winner, Game 1 of best-of-five championship series