Connor Ollio took a few hitters to get started — and paid for it.

P.J. Gourley and Alex Stobert delivered run-scoring singles in the first inning against the Butler sophomore right-hander.Knoch made them stand up for a 2-1 baseball victory Friday night at Kelly Automotive Park.

The loss marked the first non-section defeat of the season for the Golden Tornado (11-6).

“We were hoping to keep that part of our record unscathed. It didn't work out,” Butler coach Todd Erdos said.

Alex Stobert's relief pitching performance worked out well for Knoch.

Knights starting pitcher Nick Guercio surrendered six hits in three innings, including an RBI single by Nicolas Kibbie that plated Butler's only run in the second frame.

“Nick was working out of trouble, but I wasn't sure if we'd survive him pitching a third time through their lineup,” Knoch coach George Bradley said. “You have to keep a good hitting team off-balance and Nick is still working on his change-up.

“I had a gut feeling to go with Alex to start the fourth. He had a rough outing against Mars the other night, but you have to get right back up on the horse. I've never seen anybody win the Cy Young Award with a 25-0 record. Everybody loses sometime.”

Stobert threw four scoreless innings at the Tornado, striking out three. He also helped spoil a solid outing by Ollio.

The Butler hurler allowed only three hits after that rough first inning and threw just 87 pitches in a route-going effort.

“Connor got it together pretty quick,” Erdos said. “He didn't get in trouble too much. And we missed the cut-off man on a play in the first inning that probably cost him that second run.”

On Gourley's single to center that plated Dominick Bucko — who had walked to start the game — the throw to the plate sailed over the cut-off man's head, enabling Gourley to advance to second base. He scored from there on Stobert's single to right.

Butler's defense did help Ollio in the seventh. Courtesy runner Brandon Kowalski tried scoring from second on Guercio's single to right, but a relay from right fielder Adam Hohn to first baseman Jefferson Ford to catcher Jarrett Lyon cut him down at the plate.

“That was a well-executed defensive play,” Erdos said.

Butler had runners in scoring position in five of the seven innings. Twice, the Tornado had runners get called out at second after over-sliding the bag on stolen base attempts. Brandon Hildebrand lined into a double play on a hit-and-run play in the second inning.

Ford ended the Butler sixth when he was thrown out trying to advance from first to third on a single to right. Right fielder Jake Herrit gunned him down.

“This was a well-played high school baseball game,” Bradley said. “Good defensive plays on both sides, excellent pitching, some big hits ... Anyone who c ame out here on this Friday night couldn't have expected to see a better game.”

Both teams have two non-section games remaining. Butler's season will end at that point while Knoch will move on to the Class AAA playoffs.

“We want good competition at this time of year. We got it tonight and we'll get it from Pine-Richland Monday (at Laura Doerr Park).”

Butler hosts McDowell at 7 p.m. Monday at the high school field.

Knoch 200 000 0 — 2 5 3

Butler 010 000 0 — 1 8 0

W: Alex Stobert 4IP (3K, 1BB). L: Connor Ollio 7IP (5K, 3BB).

Knoch (12-5): P.J. Gourley 2B 1B RBI, Alex Stobert 1B RBI, Dylan Swarmer 1B, Nick Guercio 1B

Butler (11-6): Dallas Hays 2B, Cade Negley 2B, Adam Hohn 1B, Brandon Hildebrand 1B, Jefferson Ford 1B, Jarrett Lyon 2-1B, Nicolas Kibbie 1B RBI

Monday: Pine-Richland at Knoch, McDowell at Butler