ADAMS TWP — Mars was looking to put a down payment on a sixth consecutive Eagle County League baseball title on Friday.

A 5-run first inning didn’t hurt.

Against Cranberry Township starting pitcher Dylan McElhinny, Mars had its first six batters reach base safely. Rick Devereaux and Dave Lemley both singled home one run and Brendan Koroly doubled in another to spark the early spree.

“We’ve been streaky this season,” said Mars player/manager Brendan Malone. “We’ve had games where we’ve scored all of our runs in one inning, so it was nice tonight to have that big inning early and then tack on after that.”

Mars (22-4) scored four more runs, highlighted by Zach Murray’s solo home run to lead off the bottom of the third, and the team opened the best-of-5 title series with a 9-3 victory at the Mars High School field.

Matt DeSalvo pitched a complete game for the win. Cranberry (19-10-1) plated three runs on four hits off him in the third frame, but the hurler allowed just one base runner the rest of the way — Brandon Pouch on a two-out single in the sixth.

“Scoring those runs in the first inning made us that much more confident with Matt on the mound,” said Malone. “He’s been doing this for so long, 15 years for us and he pitched in the major leagues. Teams aren’t going to score multiple runs in an inning often against him.”

Trailing 6-0 entering the third, Ben Murray and Johnny Brittner both singled to start the inning. Player/manager Bill Clinefelter advanced his teammates with a sacrifice bunt before Nash Matson and Damian Yenzi singled in a run and another came home on Jesse Clary’s groundout.

“DeSalvo is definitely their ace,” said Clinefelter. “Obviously, you can’t take away the first and sixth innings (two runs), but other than that, we were right there.”

McElhinny went the distance for Cranberry, striking out five and walking two.

“He’s our No. 4 guy,” Clinefelter said of McElhinny. “We needed him to eat innings for us. It is what it is.”

Ray Scala, Devereaux, Lemley and Koroly each had two hits for Mars (22-4).

It was Cranberry’s first loss this postseason. The team earned a spot in the championship series with sweeps of Zelienople (best-of-3) and the Captains (best-of-5).

“We have a good core of about 12 guys and I’ve been able to count on nine or 10 of them pretty much every game,” said Clinefelter.

Mars is now 5-1 against Cranberry this season. Game 2 is scheduled for 6 p.m. Monday at North Boundary Park.

Cranberry Twp. 003 000 0 — 3 5 2

Mars 511 002 x — 9 13 0

W: Matt DeSalvo 7 IP (3K, 0BB). L: Dylan McElhinny 6 IP (5K, 2BB).

Cranberry Township (19-10-1): Nash Matson 1B R RBI, Damian Yenzi 1B RBI, Ben Murray 1B R, Johnny Brittner 1B R

Mars (22-4): Ray Scala 1B 2B 2R, Rick Devereaux 2-1B 2R 2RBI, Dave Lemley 2-1B R RBI, Zach Murray HR 2R, Brendan Koroly 1B 2B 2RBI, AJ Pagone 1B RBI, Noah Gabriel 1B RBI

Monday: Mars at Cranberry Township, Game 2 at North Boundary Park, 6 p.m.