SUNBURY -- Whether hitting, pitching, or playing defense, the Danville Ironmen are simply firing on all cylinders right now. The rest of the Susquehanna Valley League had better take notice, as the squad couldn't have picked a better time to play their best baseball of the season. On Tuesday afternoon at Shikellamy, a seven-run third inning propelled the Ironmen to an 8-3 SVL victory over the Braves.

Streaking Danville (11-7 overall and SVL) has now won six of its last seven games, losing only to league-leading Montoursvillle, 3-2.

"Our team was patient and we capitalized on (Shikellamy's) mistakes," said Danville coach Devin Knorr, whose team benefited from two crucial Braves' errors in the third-inning outburst. "We put balls in play, which is the sign of a good team. We're a much better team with the lead."

Entering the inning trailing by a run, the Ironmen put their first two batters on base before Jake Gronsky's shot to right field was dropped, loading the bases with no outs. Michael Smith battled through six pitches from Shikellamy (12-5, 12-5) starter Chuck Schlegel, ultimately singling in the infield between third and short. The first of Smith's two hits in the contest brought Todd Deroba home from third, tying the game at two. Dan Winnie then walked and Ryan Reichard reached on an error, adding two more runs and doubling Danville's lead.

Pitcher Andrew Shoop, who only an inning before put the Ironmen on the board with a solo home run to deep center, collected his second hit of the ballgame, which plated Smith, for a 5-2 Ironmen advantage.

"They found the holes with the bases loaded," Shikellamy coach Rich Aurand said. "There wasn't much we could do."

Still with no outs, Anthony Renz cranked a 3-2 line-drive past third base to score Winnie and Reichard, and Danville was rolling, up 7-2. Deroba's sac fly added another run, as Danville batted around, tallying seven runs on just four hits in the inning.

Schlegel struck out Brett Reichard to end the threat, his fifth K in three innings of work, but was replaced by Andrew Mantz in the fourth.

The Braves lefty has been battling a series of injuries as of late, but Aurand felt the junior standout was ready to go against the Ironmen.

"The injury wasn't a factor," Aurand said. "He said he was fine, and pain-free. They just had a good inning."

Shikellamy attempted to rally in the fourth and fifth, loading the bases in both innings, but were only able to produce one run off Shoop. In the fourth, two walks and a Mantz single were negated when Shoop fanned Bronze Luden and forced Kyle Raynes to pop up. Three straight singles loaded the bases once again the next inning before Danville escaped on a 6-4-3 double play and fly out to short. Schlegel raced home on the double play for the only Braves run scored after the first inning.

"(Shoop) has been giving us some great outings," Knorr said. "He's a gamer, he pitches smart, and mixes his pitchers. That double play was a great team effort.

"When we got into trouble, we made great defensive plays (to get out of jams)."

Shoop went the distance, just the second Ironmen pitcher to do so this season, scattering five hits and three runs, with seven strikeouts. The junior also handed out four walks.

Earlier, Shikellamy had jumped out to an early 2-0 lead, thanks to a towering homer to center field by Derek Alex. But the Braves managed only four total hits the rest of the contest.