Throwing strikes isn't always as easy as it sounds.

Pitchers for both Knoch and Butler struggled with control Wednesday, especially in the fourth frame, when they combined for 10 walks and a hit-batsman.

Dom Bucko and Chris Law then put together three scoreless innings for the Knights, who survived a 15-10 decision at Kelly Automotive Park.

“Personally, I hate games like this that get out of hand,” said Knights coach George Bradley, “but sometimes, you have to win ugly.”

The fourth frame began with the Knights leading 4-3. Butler starter Mark Gross had been pulled in favor of Dallas Hays, who ran into immediate trouble.

The first five batters of the inning reached base, three of them on free passes. Knoch's Asa Adams smacked a two-run single and the team's seventh run came home on Jordan Kowalski's sacrifice fly.

Hays walked Law, which loaded the bases again and the former was relieved by Conner Thomas, who surrendered a two-run single to Cole Shinsky. Thomas would go on to walk three batters by the end of the inning, at which point the Knights held a 12-3 lead.

“Sometimes you can press and start throwing the ball too hard,” said Butler coach Todd Erdos. “Our free passes led to all of Knoch's big innings and it's tough to win that way. This was the first varsity outing on the mound for both Hays and Thomas. Hopefully, the nerves won't be as bad the next time they're out there.”

Butler (1-1) then turned the tables on Knoch as the Golden Tornado scored seven runs on just four hits in the bottom of the fourth. The damage came against Ryan Grossman and Bucko, though two errors aided Butler's cause.

Reid Werth, Cade Negley and Luke Baranchak each had run-scoring base hits. By the end of the inning, Butler's deficit was just 12-10.

“It gave us a chance to see what kind of character this team has,” Erdos said of his team's resiliency after trailing by nine runs.

Bradley stayed with Bucko into the fifth inning and the latter responded by setting the Tornado down in order. Law pitched a scoreless sixth and seventh.

“It was good to see three straight innings with no runs scored on us,” said Bradley. “You're not always going to be able to come back from adversity, but our guys did tonight.”

The Knights added three runs in the top of the fifth with scores coming on another bases-loaded walk, a wild pitch and a single from Shinsky.

Jeremy Moorhead brought some order to Butler's pitching staff, working a scoreless sixth and seventh inning.

Nick Guercio started the game for Knoch (2-0) and pitched the first three innings, allowing three runs on two hits while striking out two and walking three.

“He threw 62 pitches over the first three innings,” said Bradley. “I thought he pitched well, but was starting to leave the ball up. It's early in the season, so we relieved him.”

Knoch 004 830 0 — 15 10 3

Butler 102 700 0 — 10 8 1

W: Chris Law 2 IP (1K, 1BB). L: Mark Gross 3 IP (3K, 1BB).

Knoch (2-0): Asa Adams 2-1B 2R 3RBI, Garrett Traggiai R RBI, Jordan Kowalski 1B 2R 3RBI, Chris Law 2B R RBI, Cole Shinsky 2-1B R 3RBI, Dom Bucko 1B 2R, Addis Crouch 1B R RBI, P.J. Gourley 1B R, Joel Zacherl 2R, Dustin Montgomery R, Logan Hickey RBI, Jake Herrit 1B R

Butler (1-1): Reid Werth 2-1B 2R RBI, Cade Negley 2B 3R RBI, Garett Goslaw RBI, Mark Gross 2RBI, Luke Baranchak 1B R RBI, Jeremy Moorhead 1B R, Lake Sankey 1B, Connor Ollio 2-1B R, Nathan Kibbie R, Conner Thomas R

Friday: Ellwood City at Butler; Ford City at Knoch