ZELIENOPLE — Teeth were gnashing and hands were wringing for the first four innings.

Then, Mars II took a collective deep breath.

Game 4 of the Eagle County League baseball semifinal series between Mars II and Zelienople started out much in the same way Game 2 began: Mars II putting runners on base but not scoring.

Zelienople won the second game of the series.

Mars II wasn't about to let that happen again, erupting for four runs in the top of the fifth inning on the way to a 5-1 victory Wednesday at Zelienople Community Park to wrap up the series.

“We definitely started feeling the pressure a little bit in the fourth inning,” said Mars II player/manager Eric King. “We just got to the pitcher there a little bit. Their pitcher had a good game. We had that big inning and it took the pressure off a little bit.”

Leadoff hitter Dustin Lalle and No. 3 hitter Kevin Vangheluwe each had two-run singles in the frame against Zelienople left-handed starter Lee Lawver.

Lalle was 2-for-4 in the game and has been a steady presence all season at the top of the Mars II lineup.

“You can't ask for a better leadoff hitter than Lalle,” King said. “He's either getting a hit or walking. He's getting on base and that's all you can ask from your leadoff guy. He had a nice series.

“The first three or four batters are real easy to put together in the lineup,” said King, who watched the top of his order go 5-for-11 with four RBI and a double. “Having (Lalle) at the top and (Tim Geibel) and Kevin there, those guys are easy to plug in.”

The run support was more than enough for James Connelly, who pitched the first two innings of Game 3 and left with a sizable lead.

Connelly went all seven on zero days rest, striking out three and not issuing a walk.

“I told him, 'You're gonna start (Wednesday),'” King said. “He told me, 'OK. That's fine.' He's a gamer. He said he was good to go and I just let him go.

“I was hoping to get maybe five (innings) out of him,” King added. “I couldn't take him out as well as he was throwing. I was really impressed with how he threw.”

The only run Zelienople got against Connelly was a solo home run in the sixth inning by Tad Forsythe.

The loss ended a wild late-season surge by Zelienople, which won its first-ever playoff series by downing Pine-Richland.

“We had one bad inning,” said Zelienople manager Stew Weimer. “We had a good run. We did well.”

Mars II, the No. 1 seed in the playoffs, will now square off against old foe Mars in the best-of-five championship series, which begins at 6 p.m. today at Highfield Park.

Mars, the No. 2 seed, is shooting for its seventh consecutive league title.

“We've been waiting for these guys all year,” King said. “These last few years, we've built up quite the rivalry.”

Mars II has lost to Mars the last two years in the championship series.

King said his team is motivated to end Mars' streak of titles.

“I think that gives us a little more of a chip on our shoulder,” King said. “We know they are the team to beat. We're going to come out and give it our all. It's nice having the No. 1 seed this year. Hopefully that gives us a little bit of an edge this year. We know they are going to pitch well and play fundamental baseball. Hopefully we can do the same.”

Mars II 000 041 0 — 5 12 1

Zelienople 000 001 0 — 1 8 0

W: James Connelly 7IP (3K, 0BB). L: Lee Lawver 6IP (0K, 1BB).

Mars II: Dustin Lalle 2-1B 2-RBI, Tim Geibel 1B 2B, Kevin Vangheluwe 1B 2-RBI, Evan Oswald 2B, Eric King 2-1B, Darren Blakely 2-1B RBI, Ryan Leonberg 1B, Ryan Denney 1B

Zelienople: Noah Medich 2-2B, Tad Forsythe HR 1B RBI, Pat Zehnder 1B, Scott Lumley 1B, Adam Schaffner 1B, Anthony Bevilacqua 2B

Today: Mars vs. Mars II at Highfield Park, Game 1 of best-of-five Eagle County League baseball championship series