CALLERY — Facing elimination, Jack Baumgartel was just who the Space Cowboys needed on the mound.

And he did not disappoint.

The right-hander held Cranberry Township to just two hits in a 6-1 victory in the fourth game of an Eagle County League baseball semifinal series Tuesday at Callery Field.

The result knotted the best-of-five showdown at two games apiece. Game 5 will be played at 6 p.m. Wednesday at North Boundary Park.

“We started the season with five pitchers and he’s definitely been the most consistent one,” said Cowboys’ manager Jason Gillis. “He’s carried us; he’s our ace.”

Baumgartel certainly pitched like one Tuesday. Only an RBI-single off the bat of Matt Evans in the top of the sixth inning kept him from earning a shutout.

“They usually have a good read on me,” Baumgartel said of Cranberry (21-7). “But everything seemed to be working for me tonight and it worked out for us.”

Baumgartel, who struck out six and walked three in his latest effort, was also the winning pitcher in Game 2 of the series last week. He didn’t allow a hit until Jesse Clary’s single that led off the top of the fourth.

The former had been working with the lead since his teammates scored two runs in the bottom of the first. Against Cranberry starter Alex Haevner, Brendan Koroly singled, Joe Professori was hit by a pitch and Johnny Fratto walked to load the bases.

Trey Wagner’s sacrifice fly scored the first run and another tally later scored on a fielding error.

Haevner blanked the Cowboys (17-11) over the next three innings before allowing two more runs in the fifth frame. He walked Professori and Fratto to begin the inning and both scored on Angelo DeLeonardis’ two-out single.

Haevner struck out nine and walked five, allowing four runs on five hits in five innings.

“He’s struggled with his control,” Cranberry manager Bill Clinefelter said. “He seems to go deep into counts all the time, but he’s working on it.”

Baumgartel issued a lead-off walk to Evan Oswald in the sixth. The latter moved to second on Clary’s sacrifice bunt and scored on Evans’ base hit two batters later.

Baumgartel set Cranberry down in order in the seventh.

“We hit the ball pretty well against him in two games in the regular season,” Clinefelter said. “I just feel we were a little too aggressive at the plate today, would’ve liked to have seen us take a few more pitches and get some more walks.”

The Cowboys added a pair of insurance runs in the bottom of the sixth. Gillis singled and later scored on an error and Koroly later scored following Fratto’s single.

“Our offense has been up and down this year,” Jason Gillis said. “This is our first year in the league and we’re the youngest team. Most of our players are entering their first year of college, but we’ve put up a heck of a fight and proved we can play with these guys.

Captains 5, Mars 4 — The other semifinal series is now tied at one game apiece after the Captains edged defending champion Mars at North Boundary Park.

Game 3 will be played at 6 p.m. Wednesday at Callery Field.

Cranberry Twp. 000 001 0 — 1 2 3

Space Cowboys 200 022 x — 6 8 2

W: Jack Baumgartel 7 IP (6K, 3BB). L: Alex Haevner 5 IP (9K, 5BB).

Cranberry Township: Jesse Clary 1B, Matt Evans 1B RBI

Space Cowboys: Brendan Koroly 3-1B 2R, Johnny Fratto 2-1B R, Angelo DeLeonardis 1B 2RBI, Dathan Gillis 1B R

Wednesday: Space Cowboys vs. Cranberry Township, Game 5, North Boundary Park, 6 p.m.