The Butler BlueSox sent some runs across the plate late.

It were the potential runs that stayed on base early that ultimately cost them a chance to complete an undefeated run through the Prospect League playoffs before 1,059 fans Saturday night at Kelly Automotive Park.

Lafayette held on for an 11-8 victory — only Butler’s third loss in its last 18 home games — to force Sunday’s series-deciding Game 3.

“We had runners in scoring position with no outs, one out, and just couldn’t get them across,” BlueSox manager Cody Herald said. “That happens. That’s part of baseball.”

The BlueSox left seven runners in scoring position on the night. Another, Pavin Parks, was thrown out at the plate trying to score on a shallow fly out to right in the first inning. Parks was also nailed trying to advance to third on a passed ball with no outs in the fifth.

Butler stranded a leadoff double by Brady Gulakowski in the second. The Sox loaded the bases with one out in the fourth and couldn’t score. Rey Gonzalez grounded into a double play to end a threat in the seventh.

“Mistakes on the bases hurt us and their guys came up with a lot of two-out hits,” Herald said.

The Aviators scored three times with two outs in the top of the first. Dougie Parks delivered an infield hit to plate a run and Evan Kennedy followed with a two-run homer down the right field line.

Brian Sharp’s two-out RBI double in the second was followed by run-scoring singles from Cory Heffron and winning pitcher Logan Beaman. Just like that, Lafayette had a 6-1 lead on losing pitcher Alex Stobert.

The Knoch graduate was pulled after two innings.

“He’s one of their best pitchers and we got some good swings on him,” Lafayette manager Brent McNeil said. “That quick start showed we wanted to be here. We weren’t just gonna lay down and hand it to them.”

Stobert threw 50 pitches and allowed seven hits.

“He’s still one our best pitchers,” Herald said. “Tonight, he just caught too much of the plate. Pitchers have nights like that.”

Sharp drilled a three-run homer well over the right field fence in the eighth, enabling the Aviators to open up an 11-2 lead. Still, Butler fought back.

Two walks and Stefan Mrkonja’s third single of the game loaded the bases with two outs in the bottom of the eighth. Tanner Murphy then lofted a high fly ball to left.

Lafayette left fielder Noah McGowan struggled to find the ball in the lights and it deflected off the tip of his glove, allowing three runs to score.

Patrick Ferguson led off the BlueSox ninth with his club-record 16th homer of the season. With one out, Gulakowski reached on an errant third strike, Kristian Webb doubled and scored on Damian Maglione’s single. Justin Kirkpatrick bounced into a force play, scoring Webb to cut the deficit to 11-8.

Mrkonja grounded into a force play to end the game.

“We made a run at them late,” Herald said. “Hopefully, that momentum will carry into Sunday.”

McNeil shook his head at the way the game ended.

“These are the two best teams in the league,” he said. “They weren’t going to quit tonight. We didn’t quit after that first game (14-1 loss at home).

“We’ve got a lot of respect for each other.”

Former BlueSox manager Anthony Rebyanski threw out the ceremonial first pitch.

Game 2-Prospect League Finals

Lafayette 332 000 030 — 11 12 2

Butler 100 000 133 — 8 14 2

W: Logan Beaman 5.1IP (3K, 4BB). L: Alex Stobert 2IP (2K, 0BB).

Lafayette (39-26): Brian Sharp HR 2B 1B 4-RBI 3-R, Cory Heffron 1B RBI, Logan Beaman 1B RBI, Dougie Parks 2B 1B RBI 2-R, Evan Kennedy HR 2-RBI, Trey Bridis 2B RBI, Jawan McAllister 2B 2-R, Noah McGowan 1B, Nick Schrader 1B

Butler (40-24): Tanner Murphy 2-1B, Pavin Parks 1B 2B 3B 2-RBI, Patrick Ferguson HR, Brady Gulakowski 2B 2-R, Kristian Webb 2B 1B, Damian Maglione 1B RBI, Justin Kirkpatrock 1B RBI, Stefan Mrkonja 3-1B 2-R