Call it the great escape.

Times two.

Trailing by two runs late, Butler loaded the bases in both the eighth and ninth innings but failed to score as West Virginia hung on for a 4-2 win and a first-half, East Division Prospect League title Wednesday night at Kelly Automotive Park.

“It’s good to see that we’re getting guys on and in scoring position,” said Butler manager Jason Radwan. “We just have to have someone come up in that situation and get a big hit.”

Relief pitchers Jarron Monroe and Austin Goss put on the Houdini act for the Miners.

Tyler Sullivan doubled with Nick Spangler at first base in the bottom of the eighth inning for Butler, but Monroe got a pair of strikeouts before issuing a walk to Jamie Switalski.

With the bases loaded, Nick Stotler grounded out to end the threat.

In the bottom of the ninth, Monroe walked the first two Butler batters and was lifted for Goss, who then walked pinch-hitter Will Schneider after a flyout to left.

But Goss also did his best escape-artist impression, getting Sullivan to pop out and Dalton Hoiles to ground out to short to end the game.

And get West Virginia manager Tim Epling’s heart beating again.

The last two nights, Butler had threatened to rally and win, but fallen short. The BlueSox fell Tuesday night, 9-8, after falling behind 8-1 early.

By winning the first half, the Miners clinched a playoff spot. The first and second half champions play in the postseason in August for a chance to play the West Division champion for the league title.

“Butler’s scary,” Epling said. “They are so scary. Just last night, most teams would fold and just go through the motions. Holy cow, next thing you know, they tied it up. I’m sitting there going it’s deja vu, only this time they’re going to hit a double or hit one out of the park and we’re gonna lose.

“I’m just glad we were lucky enough to pull it out.”

Butler (14-16) went ahead 1-0 in the second inning on a solo home run by Pavin Parks. It was his second home run in as many days.

The BlueSox moved ahead 2-1 on a double-play groundout that plated a run, but West Virginia moved ahead for good on a two-run home run by Tanner Levine in the top of the fifth inning.

That saddled Shawn Holman with the loss. Holman went six inning, striking out two and walking one.

“Shawn pitched well,” Radwan said. “He got ahead in the count, so it was definitely good to see that.”

The second half begins tonight when Butler travels to Beckley, W.Va., to play the Miners.

For Butler, it’s a fresh start after an up-and-down first half.

“That’s definitely the mindset. It’s a reset button,” Radwan said. “We get to start over. It’s a new half and a new season and we have to be ready to go from the start. Hopefully we can bring what we did well from the first half into the second half and progress.”

West Virginia 000 120 100 — 4 11 0

Butler 010 100 000 — 2 7 4

W: Michael Syrett 7IP (3K, 1BB). L: Shawn Holman 6IP (2K, 1BB). SV: Austin Goss 1IP (0K, 1BB)

West Virginia (17-13): Taylor Hillson 1B, Nick Delgado 2-1B, Dan Ward 1B, Tanner Levine 2B HR 2-RBI, Austin Norman 2B 1B, Anthony Ayala 1B, Sean David Clark 1B

Butler (14-16): Tyler Sullivan 2-1B 2B, Dalton Hoiles 1B, Tyler Niemann 1B, Pavin Parks HR 1B RBI

Today: Butler at West Virginia