CRANBERRY TWP — When Brian Zima pitches, he doesn't expect a ton of runs to back him up.

He expects to be in the right frame of mind and a great defense to back him up.

He got both in Game 2 of the Eagle County Baseball Championship Series Monday.

Zima allowed one hit over six innings, shaking off four walks en route to a 1-0 victory over Cranberry Township at North Boundary Park.

The win gave Mars a 2-0 lead in the best-of-five series after a 10-0 win on Saturday.

"I always approach it as if it were a close game," said Zima. "I try to get the fielders involved. I'm not going to get a lot of strikeouts. I like to let the fielders do it."

Cranberry Township put a pair of runners on after two outs in both the fifth innings and sixth innings, but Zima worked out of both jams, then Cranberry had the tying run on in the sixth and seventh innings, but double plays short-circuited the rallies.

The game's lone run came in the top of the first inning when, with one out, Aaron Ordy was hit by a Chris Norris pitch and Brendan Malone followed with a single.

After Ordy was caught in a rundown on a pickoff move, Paul Westwood lined an RBI double for a 1-0 lead.

Don Dell opened the second inning with a double, but Mars couldn't push that run home.

"We left a couple of runs on the bases early," said Mars manager Rob Fester. "I think we kind of got lucky. (Norris) pitched a great game, too. It's a credit to him.

"It didn't bite us. Brian Zima has pitched like that all year. Everyone on the staff all year has done that. 'Z' did an outstanding job. I can't give him enough credit."

Zima allowed only a walk to Ben Follett over the first three frames and retired the first two hitters in the fourth inning before Greg Miller walked and Hugh Mulvey had an infield single before Bill Clinefelter flew out to short right field.

In the Cranberry fifth, Bill Stehle and Justin Patsilevas drew two-out walks before Zima fanned Jeff Susi, who had a flare down the right-field line just fall into foul territory during the at-bat.

In the sixth inning, Johnny Hastings was hit by a Zima pitch with one out, then Miller smashed a hard liner to Don Dell at second base, who tossed to shortstop Ordy covering the bag to end the inning.

"I tend to get wilder late in games," said Zima. "The guys make plays behind you. I'm not leery to throwing the ball over the plate."

Cranberry opened the seventh inning with a walk to Hugh Mulvey by reliever Mike Johnson, but Clinefelter's bunt attempt was caught by Johnson, who threw to first to double up Mulvey. Keith Kubit grounded out to end the game.

Norris tossed another strong game, scattering six hits with five strikeouts and two walks in taking the loss.

Said Clinefelter, "Chris has been big for us. In his last game (in the semifinals against Saxonburg), he was outstanding.

"I expected him to hold Mars to one or two runs. I thought we would have cashed in."

"You don't expect to win 1-0," said Fester. "but in this case, 1-0 was good enough."

Mars 100 000 0 — 1 5 0Cranberry Twp. 000 000 0 — 0 1 0W: Brian Zima 6 IP (5K, 4BB).

L: Chris Norris 6IP (5K, 2BB).

Mars: Aaron Ordy 1B; Brendan Malone 1B; Paul Westwood 1B, 2B, RBI; Don Dell 2B

Cranberry Twp.: Hugh Mulvey 1B

Today: Game 3-Cranberry Twp. vs. Mars at Callery Field