Friday would have been a good time for the Butler BlueSox to cut into their deficit in the Prospect League’s East Division.

West Virginia’s Jake Belinda had other ideas.

Belinda gave up just one run on four hits in seven innings on the mound as West Virginia cruised past the Sox 7-1 at Kelly Automotive Park.

Butler is 1-3 on its current six-game homestand and trails division-leading West Virginia by 4½ games. The Sox dropped back-to-back decisions to Lafayette Wednesday and Thursday.

“The last two games (combined), we walked 16 and hit four batters,” said Butler manager Jason Radwan. “I thought we were more consistent with our pitching tonight. And Belinda is a strikeout guy and he only had five tonight.”

But Butler still had immense trouble getting to the right-hander, a nephew of former Pittsburgh Pirates’ reliever Stan Belinda.

He had a no-hitter going until Tyler Sullivan’s single in the bottom of the sixth. The Sox finally got on the scoreboard in the seventh when Dillon Sunnafrank tripled and scored on a single by Dalton Hoiles.

Belinda ended the night with five strikeouts and three walks and lowered his ERA this season to 2.02.

“He’s one of the top three or four pitchers in the league,” said Miners’ manager Tim Epling. “His fastball is between 91 and 94 (miles-per-hour), but he moves his lower half so fast, the ball seems to jump on the hitters even more quickly than that.”

Trailing 5-1 and with Belinda out of the game, Butler had a chance to make things interesting in the bottom of the eighth.

Facing Brandon Stuckenschneider, Tyler Niemann walked and Nick Stotler singled to begin the frame. Both runners advanced on Sullivan’s fly out, but remained on the bases as Will Schneider popped out and James Meeker flied out.

“It’s been a common theme for us,” said Radwan. “We get guys on base, but can’t get them in. I thought we hit the ball hard tonight.”

Butler starter Pavin Parks allowed a single run in the first inning, then worked four straight scoreless frames. The Miners (11-6) got to him in the sixth, however.

A throwing error led to a run-scoring groundout from Tanner Levine and a RBI-single off the bat of Austin Norman.

Parks worked six innings and allowed three runs (two earned) on seven hits.

The Miners would score two runs in the eighth and two more in the ninth off of Butler relievers Kason Kimbrell and Jamie Switalski, respectively.

Miners’ designated hitter Dan Ward went 4-for-5 and raised his average to .371, which is third-best in the league.

Butler hosts Champion City Saturday and Sunday.

West Virginia 100 002 022 — 7 11 1

Butler 000 000 100 — 1 5 2

W: Jake Belinda 7 IP (5K, 3BB). L: Pavin Parks 6 IP (3K, 2BB).

West Virginia (11-6): Anthony Ayala 2-1B 3R 2RBI, Dan Ward 4-1B R RBI, Tanner Levine 1B 2RBI, Austin Norman 1B R RBI, Tre Porter 1B RBI, Jerry Chavarria 1B R, Taylor Hillson 1B R

Butler (6-10): Nick Stotler 1B, Tyler Sullivan 1B, James Meeker 1B, Dillon Sunnafrank 3B R, Dalton Hoiles 1B RBI

Saturday: Champion City at Butler