BUTLER TWP — One bad inning was empowered by one great performance.

Moon junior right-hander Ryan Osman made the Tigers' five-run second inning stand up Wednesday night at Butler High School, limiting the Golden Tornado to four hits while posting a 5-0 Section 1-AAAA baseball victory.

“He pounded the zone on us,” Butler coach Todd Erdos said. “We haven't been able to figure him out. He beat us earlier this season and he gave us trouble last year.”

Osman threw 47 of his 63 pitches for strikes through the first six innings in making quick work of Butler. He threw only four pitches while retiring the side in order in the fifth inning.

Osman did not walk a batter until allowing back-to-back free passes with two outs in the seventh. He threw 87 pitches in the game.

“We have a steadfast rule. We don't allow anybody to throw 100 pitches,” Moon coach Todd Goble said. “Ryan is our No. 1 guy and he was very effective today.

“The key to successful pitching is getting ahead of hitters. He was doing that all night.”

Butler (9-4, 4-4) saw its five-game winning streak snapped. Moon (9-6, 3-5) had lost five of six games entering Wednesday.

“It's a crazy section. Anything can happen,” Goble said. “We're still in it.”

Tornado starting pitcher Zachary Henderson was victimized early. He was greeted by back-to-back doubles by Brian Casper and Max Mari to begin the second inning. A walk, wild pitch and two hit batsmen produced two more runs before Jake Farringer delivered a two-run single up the middle to cap the rally.

A double and walk loaded the bases before Erdos replaced Henderson with Donovan Thompson.

“Zach was bothered by some tenderness in his elbow,” Erdos said. “He tried to pitch through it, but it didn't work out. He lost his command.

“Donovan did an excellent job. He gave us a chance to whittle into their lead and try to come back. We just couldn't get anything going.”

After leaving the bases loaded in the second, Thompson threw four scoreless frames before Alec Bayer retired the Tigers in order in the seventh.

One of Butler's best opportunities to score was in the first inning. With one out, Adam Hohn was hit by a pitch and stole second. Cade Negley hit a liner that shortstop Austin Hoffman snagged. Hohn was doubled off second on the play.

With one out in the sixth, Nathan Kibbie reached on an infield single and Dallas Hays doubled to left. But Osman struck out Hohn and got Negley to fly out to center to end the threat.

“This may have been a bump, but in this section, you can't afford a bump,” Erdos said. “This loss hurt us, but it didn't take us out of anything.

“We need to bounce back with a big effort Friday (at Pine-Richland). That's another big one.”

Moon 050 000 0 — 5 7 0

Butler 000 000 0 — 0 4 0

W: Ryan Osman 7IP (3K, 2BB). L: Zachary Henderson 1.2IP (1K, 3BB).

Moon (9-6, 3-5): Anthony Fachet RBI, Jake Farringer 2-1B 2-RBI, Austin Hoffman 2B, Brian Casper 2B 1B, Max Mari 2B RBI, Ryan Osman 1B,

Butler (9-4, 4-4): Dallas Hays 2B, Cade Negley 1B, Jarrett Lyon 1B, Nathan Kibbie 1B

Friday: Butler at Pine-Richland