WEXFORD — Joe Craska kept putting up zeroes, giving Mars time to get rid of its own.

The Planets did that with a vengeance, using a five-run fifth inning to defeat Fox Chapel, 5-0, in a first-round WPIAL Class 5A baseball playoff game Thursday at North Allegheny.

Mars will face West Allegheny ion the second round next week.

“We're used to playing in games like this,” Craska said of the scoreless duel through four innings. “Eventually, our hitting is gonna break through.”

Before Mars (11-8) did so, Fox Chapel had a few opportunities of its own.

The Foxes had a runner at second with two outs in the first inning, but Craska struck out clean-up hitter T.J. Johnston. Jonathan Simon tripled with one out in the Foxes' second, but Craska fanned the next two batters.

Fox Chapel (10-8) loaded the bases with two outs in the third, but Mars' junior right-hander struck out Noah Marks to end that threat.

“Joe is so gritty out there,” Mars coach Andy Bednar said. “Situations don't get to him. He just continues to battle.”

Fox Chapel had a runner at first with one out in the fifth when Craska got a double play ball. The Foxes had runners at first and second with one out in the sixth when Mars shortstop J.J. Wetherholt fielded a ground ball near second base, stepped on the bag and fired to first to end that uprising.

“Our defense was outstanding today,” Bednar said. “Both of those double plays were big.”

So was the Planet half of the fifth inning.

Simon threw only 49 pitches through the first four innings as Mars managed only one runner as far as second base in the first four frames.

“It was frustrating,” Mars second baseman Tyler Kowalkowski said. “He kept challenging us with fastballs and we did nothing with them.

“He was making it look easy.”

Teddy Ruffner singled to left to begin the Mars fifth. Will Bednar walked and Shane Fox tried bunting the runners up. The throw to first base was dropped by the second baseman covering the bag and the Planets had the bases loaded.

With one out, Kowalkowski singled to right to plate a pair of runs. Fox crossed the plate as well, taking advantage of a bobble in right field. Craska doubled to left to plate Kowalkowski and Wetherholt singled to right, bringing home Craska.

“He (Simon) left a curveball up and I hit it the other way,” Kowalkoski said of his single. “Once we got on the board, the way Joe was pitching, I knew we'd be OK.”

Craska struck out seven and scattered six hits over 6.2 innings. He left the game on pitch count.

“I was going to replace him at the start of the seventh, but he wanted to go back out there,” Bednar said. “I love that about the kid. He wants the ball in his hand.”

Craska began the seventh with 93 pitches. He left the game with 105.

“We missed our chances early,” Fox Chapel coach Jim Hastings said. “If we push a run or two across in those first three innings, this becomes a different game.

“We never got the big hit.”

Craska wouldn't allow it.

“I don't like to put runners on base, but there are situations when I need a strikeout and I try to get it,” he said. “I was able to get it today.”

Two players — Matt Jerpe and Simon — had three hits in as many at bats against Craska. No other Fox hit safely against him.

“Jonathan was perfect at the plate and pitched a great game,” Hastings said. “We couldn't ask any more of him.

“One bad inning ... We had the momentum early. One bad inning and this game changed in a blink of an eye. That happens in baseball.”

Fittingly, Fox took the mound and got the final out for the Planets.

“With Will (Bednar) down this year, Joe and Shane really stepped it up for us this year,” Bednar said. “They've given us a lot of quality innings and did so again today.”

Fox Chapel 000 000 0 — 0 6 4

Mars 000 050 x — 5 7 2

W: Joe Craska 6.2IP (7K, 2BB). L: Jonathan Simon 4.1IP (2K, 1BB).

Fox Chapel (10-8): Matt Jerpe 3-1B, Jonathan Simon 3B 2-1B

Mars (11-8): Tyler Kowalkowski 1B 2-RBI, Joe Craska 1B 2B RBI, J.J. Wetherholt 1B RBI, Rowan Fletcher 1B, Teddy Ruffner 1B, Will Bednar 1B

Next: WPIAL 5A playoffs-Mars vs. West Allegheny, site, date and time TBA