WEXFORD — A four-run Butler fifth inning put Penn Trafford in a big hole.

The Warriors walked right out of it.

Four walks and a throwing error handed Penn Trafford three runs without a hit in the sixth inning and the team rallied for a 7-6 WPIAL Class 6A baseball playoff win over the Golden Tornado Tuesday night at North Allegheny.

“This is a tough way to go out,” Butler coach Todd Erdos said. “We handed them opportunities and they found ways to get the runs home.”

The Golden Tornado (14-7) had won four straight games and 11 of 13 entering their postseason opener. Butler seemingly took control of the game in that fifth frame.

The Warriors (11-9) took a 3-2 lead in the top of the inning as Jordan Sabol walked and eventually scored from third on a missed suicide squeeze bunt attempt. The batter missed the ball, but Sabol scored as the ball popped out of catcher Justin Stewart's glove on the tag.

But with one out in the bottom of the inning, Butler loaded the bases on singles by Dallas Hays and Cade Negley and a walk to Connor Ollio.

Sam Gross singled to left to tie the game. Gross wound up with a double, three singles and two RBI on the night.

With two outs, Alec Bayer beat out an infield hit to give the Tornado the lead. No. 9 hitter Adam Hohn then ripped a two-run single to left and Butler had a 6-3 advantage.

“We just kept scrapping,” Penn Trafford coach Dan Miller said. “This team has been through adversity this year. We followed up a six-game winning streak with a six-game losing streak.

“But we got here.”

Butler starting pitcher Negley walked the leadoff man in the sixth and fell behind No. 8 hitter Zach Mancz 2-0 before being replaced on the mound by Ollio.

Mancz drew a walk and Ollio walked No. 9 hitter Travis Hohman to load the bases.

“Taking a three-run lead, then walking the first three hitters the next inning isn't what you want to do,” Erdos said.

Ollio looked like he might escape damage as he struck out Sabol and got ahead of No. 2 hitter Mario Disso 1-2. But Disso worked the count full, fouled off three straight pitches and drew a walk to force home a run.

“What a huge at-bat. He just battled,” Miller said.

Robbie Buck hit a slow roller to shortstop. Butler got the force at second, but threw wildly to first trying to complete a double play as the tying runs crossed the plate.

“We compounded the walks with some fielding mistakes we wound up paying for,” Erdos said.

Penn Trafford scored the eventual winning run in the seventh. Ben Mongelluzzo beat out an infield hit and moved to second on an errant pickoff attempt. Tyler Horvat singled to left, the ball getting past outfielder Alec Bayer as Mongelluzzo scored. Bayer retrieved the ball and threw out Horvat trying to get to third.

But the damage was done.

Horvat, a sophomore, pitched six innings and struck out seven. He was removed after the sixth with 95 pitches and Christian Pfrogner pitched a scoreless seventh for the save.

“That kid (Horvat) showed a lot of heart tonight,” Miller said. “If he wasn't our No. 1 pitcher before, he is now.”

Hays scored two runs while Negley and Hohn had two singles each for Butler. Tornado pitchers walked eight batters and began four successive innings with walks. Three of them scored.

Penn Trafford put the leadoff man on base in six of the seven innings.

“The walks were uncharacteristic of us,” Erdos said. “This is a high mound here, but you have to find a way to adjust and throw strikes.

“The playoffs are a new season. Everyone starts 0-0 and it's one and done. There's an excitement to that, but it's tough when you come out on the wrong end.”

Penn Trafford 101 013 1 — 7 8 1

Butler 100 140 0 — 6 11 4

W: Tyler Horvat 6IP (7K, 2BB). L: Connor Ollio 2IP (4K, 2BB).

Penn Trafford (11-9): Jordan Sabol 1B 3-R, Mario Disso 1B RBI, Robbie Buck 2-1B RBI, Josh Spiegel 1B, Ben Mongelluzzo 2-1B RBI, Tyler Horvat 1B RBI,

Butler (14-6): Dallas Hays 1B 2-R, Cade Negley 2-1B, Sam Gross 2B 3-1B 2-RBI 2-R, Isaiah Lucas 1B RBI, Alec Bayer 1B RBI, Adam Hohn 2-1B 2-RBI