FREEMANSBURG — Franklin Township’s formula hasn’t changed.

When the games get bigger, the baseball gets better.

The latest example came Thursday night, when Owen Moyer threw a complete-game two-hit shutout, Brian Mriss drove in all three runs and Franklin turned in another flawless defensive performance in a 3-0 victory over Freemansburg Blue to advance to Sunday’s Junior Connie Mack championship game.

The win improved Franklin to 17-3, and continued a postseason run built on complete baseball. After eliminating North Parkland behind a complete-game effort from Myles Meek on Tuesday, Franklin followed with another poised performance on the road, knocking off Freemansburg (16-3) to avenge two of the three losses it suffered during the regular season in back-to-back games.

“We’re playing our most complete games when it matters most,” Franklin manager Ben Moyer said. “Tuesday, Myles threw a complete game, 88 pitches. Owen throws a complete game today, 80 pitches. You can’t ask for anything more from those kids, and our defense is making the plays when they have to.”

Moyer never allowed Freemansburg to string together much offense, scattering two hits while striking out four and walking two over seven innings. Even after the shutout, however, Moyer pointed to the teammates behind him.

“It’s always good to have a good defense because I missed a couple spots,” Owen Moyer said. “They made good plays in the field. They were there when I needed them.”

Franklin’s defense was tested early.

Freemansburg put runners on the corners with no outs in the second after Dane Brotzman and Connor Morgan both singled. But Mriss threw out Morgan attempting to steal second before Owen Moyer retired the next two hitters to keep the game scoreless.

The visitors finally broke through in the fourth, manufacturing the game’s first two runs.

Roman White opened the inning by being hit by a pitch before Owen Moyer hustled out an infield single, narrowly beating the throw to first. An errant pickoff attempt moved both runners into scoring position, and Mriss lined a two-run double to center field for a 2-0 lead.

“We definitely try to put pressure on the defense,” Mriss said. “If you put pressure on the defense, there’s a chance they will make some mistakes, like they did today. Then people come up with big hits.”

Franklin threatened again in the fifth when Landan Steigerwalt and Miles Mann both singled before Jakoby Andrews walked to load the bases with two outs. Freemansburg escaped further damage when second baseman Connor Morgan knocked down Roman White’s sharply hit liner and recovered in time to flip to first baseman Shane Coleman.

An inning later, Franklin added an insurance run.

Carter Spotts led off the sixth with a double before Owen Moyer singled to put runners on the corners. Moyer later advanced to third on a wild pitch and scored on Mriss’ sacrifice fly to make it 3-0.

Mriss accounted for all three RBIs, but he viewed the victory through a much wider lens.

“It takes the whole team,” he said. “It’s not just a one-person game. You’ve got to trust the whole team. Whoever it is, whenever your number is called, you’ve got to go out and do your job.”

That philosophy was evident throughout the night.

Freemansburg hit several balls sharply, particularly to the outfield, but Franklin answered every challenge. Ben Moyer even rotated four different outfielders – Spotts, Steigerwalt, Meek and Brody Hunsicker – confident each would make a play when called upon.

“We were just switching it because we trust all the kids that are out there to make the plays,” he said. “Everybody whose number was called made the play tonight.

“We had two walks, no errors. You’re going to win a lot of baseball games that way.”

For Ben Moyer, those moments are a reflection of something much larger than one postseason run.

Much of Franklin’s roster has grown up playing together, experiencing success in championship settings dating back to Little League. Those shared experiences, he believes, have created a team that understands what winning baseball looks like when the pressure is highest.

“This group has a culture of winning,” he said. “They’ve been together. They know how to win. I think it gives them confidence. I don’t think any game is too big for them.”

That confidence has carried Franklin through another July.

After eliminating North Parkland on Tuesday and Freemansburg on Thursday — two of the only three teams to beat it during the regular season — Franklin has earned the chance to face the last one standing.

Standing between Franklin and a Junior Connie Mack championship is Lehigh Blue, the only team to hand FT a regular-season loss that it has yet to avenge. Lehigh Blue defeated Nazareth 7-1 in Thursday’s other semifinal, and the teams will meet at 5:30 p.m. Sunday at Lehigh Blue for the title.

LAST TIME ... Lehigh Blue defeated Franklin 10-1 in a regular season contest on May 19.

HITTERS ... Owen Moyer finished with a pair of hits, while Mriss and Spotts both collected doubles. Meek, Steigerwalt and Miles Mann also had hits for Franklin.

Franklin Twp. 000 201 0 - 3 7 0

Freemansburg 000 000 0 - 0 2 2

Moyer and Mriss; Brotzman, Sillivan (6) and Curley. W - Moyer. L - Brotzman.