ZELIENOPLE — At the time, it was a hit that brought in two big insurance runs.

It ended up being the difference in the game.

Freeport's Jordan Moore smacked a two-run single in the top of the sixth inning to give his team a 4-1 lead over host Harmony in the second game of a best-of-three Eagle County League first-round playoff series at Zelienople Community Park.

Harmony pulled to within 4-3 after John Sklarsky followed up Brett Spagnola's single with a two-out, two-run home run in the bottom of the inning.

Harmony then managed two runners in the bottom of the seventh before Ryan Clark retired Zach Duggan with a flyout, preserving Freeport's one-run victory and 2-0 series win.

Freeport will face Saxonburg in a best-of-five semifinal series, beginning either Thursday or Friday.

Moore's clutch base hit in the sixth scored John Bastian and Clark. He ended the game with two singles and three RBI.

His single in the second inning plated Bastian with the game's first run.

Clark helped his own cause when his flyout in the top of the fourth inning scored Dan Penberthy for a 2-0 lead.

"We count on every player to come up with clutch hits at some point," said Freeport player-coach Wayne Greiser. "The big hits are pretty spread out for us."

Clark pitched a complete game, giving up the three runs on eight hits, striking out two and walking one.

"Ryan's been throwing the ball really well lately," said Greiser. "We have a lot of confidence when he's on the mound. He was the man today. I was going with him the whole way."

"We've come back late in games several times this season and we feel we always have a chance going into our last at-bat," said Harmony player-coach Greg Slack.

There were two questionable calls at the plate that went against Harmony.

The first came in the bottom of the first inning when the home team attempted a double steal and Statzer was thrown out at home, though the former Seneca Valley High star argued the call.

The second involved Slack. Moments after Spagnola's flyout scored Duggan to cut Freeport's lead to 2-1 in the bottom of the fourth, Slack tried to score on a groundball hit by Sklarsky.

The latter was called out, before arguing the call.

"Both plays were close, but I was definitely safe," Slack said. "But, it's part of the game."

Pitcher Scott Carney started for Harmony (15-16) and tossed six innings. He shouldered the loss after surrendering four runs on five hits, striking out four and walking five.

Tim Kamnikar pitched a scoreless seventh for Harmony.

Freeport (22-9-1) has high hopes, but Greiser knows there's a long road ahead.

"We started talking in March about putting together a team that can win the championship," he said. "We're going to be a tough out, but there's some really good teams ahead of us."

Freeport 010 102 0 — 4 6 1Harmony 000 102 0 — 3 8 0W: Ryan Clark (7 IP) 2 K, 1 BB.

L: Scott Carney (6 IP) 4 K, 5 BB.

Freeport (22-9-1): Cy Haponski 1B, Dan Penberthy 2B R, John Bastian 2-1B 2R, Ryan Clark R RBI, Jordan Moore 2-1B 3 RBI

Harmony (15-16): Nathan Statzer 1B, Zach Duggan 1B R, Greg Slack 2B, Brett Spagnola 1B R RBI, John Sklarsky HR 2 RBI, Jason Kniedinger 1B, Adam Ranalli 1B, Joe Stanger 1B

Next: Freeport at Saxonburg, Eagle County League semifinals (best-of-5), Thursday or Friday