Down 8-1 in the fourth inning of a game Butler needed to win to stay alive in the first-half Prospect League East Division race, the BlueSox were faced with a test of its mettle.

Butler passed.

The BlueSox (14-15) rallied from that seven run deficit to tie the game at 8-8 in the bottom of the seventh, but West Virginia was able to push across a run in the top of the eighth and hang on for a 9-8 win Tuesday night at Kelly Automotive Park.

While the loss eliminated Butler from the first-half race, it still gave the club some momentum.

“It was a tough loss, but it was good that we fought back,” said Butler manager Jason Radwan. “I told the team I was happy to see that. We were down pretty big early, but we came back. We stayed in it all the way to the end and stayed together. Bittersweet, but hopefully this will carry over to the second half.”

West Virginia (16-12) scored four runs in the top of the first inning against Jack Herzing, who was making his first start of the season for Butler.

The big blow came on a two-run home run by Dan Ward.

The Miners went up 5-0 in the third, chasing Herzing, and extended their lead to 8-1 with three runs in the top of the fourth.

Butler, though, chipped away at the lead with two runs in the bottom of the fourth, a single run in the fifth and a three-run sixth inning keyed by a pinch-hit, two-run homer by Pavin Parks.

“That was a big boost for us,” Radwan said. “(Parks) has a lot of pop. He just has to put good swings on it and go after his pitch. If he chases out of the zone, he struggles a little bit.”

Jamie Switalski picked up the loss despite 2 1/3 strong innings after moving to the mound from the designated hitter spot.

He gave up back-to-back two-out doubles in the eighth to Ward and Tanner Levine that broke the tie.

Calvin Coker got the win for West Virginia with 2 2/3 hitless innings. He did walk two and hit a batter, but was able to get out of those jams.

West Virginia now just needs a win tonight against Butler at The KAP to lock up the first-half East Division title.

“You know what, that was a great game for the fans, for everybody,” said West Virginia manager Tim Epling. “Both teams hit the ball real well. It was like a tale of two cities; we had the first half, they had the second half and then we kind of leaked one out.

“We need that, to be honest with you,” Epling added. “We needed a game that we had to gut out because that makes you feel good, especially when you have the half on the line. Destiny is in our hands. Every win means something. To win the first half, it gives you such a big advantage.”

Butler will try to finish the first half with a .500 record.

“We come out every day trying to win games,” Radwan said. “It’s not like we’re going to come out (tonight) and not try to win. We’ll give them our best.”

West Virginia 401 300 000 — 9 11 0

Butler 001 213 100 — 8 9 0

W: Calvin Coker 2.2IP (1K, 2BB). L: Jamie Switalski 2.1IP (1K, 0BB).

West Virginia (16-12): Taylor Hillson 2B, Nick Delgado 1B, Dan Ward HR 2B 2-RBI, Tanner Levine 2-2B 1B, Austin Norman 1B RBI, Sean David Clark 2-1B 2-RBI, Anthony Ayala 1B 2-RBI

Butler (14-15): Tyler Sullivan 2-1B, Dalton Hoiles 1B, Nick Stotler 1B, Tyler Niemann 1B RBI, Tommy Baggett 1B RBI, Russ Clark 2-1B RBI, Pavin Parks HR 2-RBI

Today: West Virginia at Butler