UPPER ST. CLAIR — Butler had runners at second and third, one out in the top of the first and could not score.

Central Catholic's Andrew Walker hit an opposite-field solo home run with one out in the bottom of the inning.

It was that kind of day for the Golden Tornado.

Viking senior right-hander Marshall McGraw tossed a no-hitter on 88 pitches — despite walking four and hitting three others. Top-seeded Central Catholic eliminated Butler from the WPIAL Class 6A playoffs with a 6-0 victory at Boyce-Mayfield Park.

“Things just didn't go our way today. It's baseball. It happens,” Butler coach Cody Herald said.

“But a tip of the cap to McGraw. He was outstanding.”

Despite allowing seven base-runners, McGraw threw 55 of his 88 p[itches for strikes. He hit Nathan Kibbie to start the game. After Garet Banner bunted Kibbie to second, a wild pitch moved him to third.

Connor Ollio walked and stole second, but McGraw escaped damage by striking out the next two hitters.

Walker, a left-handed hitter, homered to left against Butler starter Grant Metzger. Austin Vigliotti hit a two-out triple to deep center in the second to plate another run.

“I thought he (McGraw) might struggle early because we haven't played in three weeks,” Vikings coach Pat Walsh said. “But once we score one or two runs for him, we're pretty confident we're going to win.

“He is that good.”

The Vikings (15-4), who won their eighth straight game, broke the contest open in the third. A single and two walks loaded the bases with no one out, prompting Herald to put Ollio on the mound.

Ollio was greeted with a line-drive single to left by Max Cebulak, scoring one run. Two strikeouts followed before Ejiro Ogagan lofted a high fly ball to left.

The ball carried just over Jake Slomers' head for a three-run double. Ogagan was thrown out trying to stretch the hit to a triple.

“Whenever we squared the ball up, the ball didn't carry, it was either right at someone or they made a good defensive play,” Herald said.

Third baseman Vigliotti made three solid plays on ground balls, including handling a slow dribbler and throwing out Jacob Keene in the fourth. Ogagan's range at second base took potential hits away from Colby Anderson and Ryan Lynn.

With two one and one out in the sixth, Metzger drilled a liner to right field that Brandon Boyce reached up and snared.

“That was probably our biggest play,” Walsh said. “Our defense was definitely there for Marshall today.”

McGraw will continue his baseball career at Seton Hill University in the fall.

“Everyone in our section knows about him,” Walsh said. “Outside of our section, he's a pretty well-kept secret.”

Ollio worked five innings for the Golden Tornado (12-7). He was charged with one run and struck out seven.

Ollio pitched Butler's two regular season games against Central, losses of 3-1 and 3-2.

“We wanted to mix things up and give them a different look,” Herald said. “And Grant's been excellent for us on the mound all season. I have no regrets with that move. I'd do it again.

“I love this bunch of guys. They worked hard to get this far and their work ethic leaves a legacy for future Butler teams to follow.”

Ollio described Butler's loss as “a tough day.”

“I've played ball with these guys since we were 5 or 6 years old,” Ollio added. “This is the last time I'll put on this uniform with them.

“That makes this a tough, tough day.”

Butler 000 000 0 — 0 0 0

Central Catholic 124 000 x — 6 6 0

W: Marshall McGraw 7IP (6K, 4BB). L: Grant Metzger 2IP (2K, 2BB).

Butler (12-7): Nick Kibbie HBP, Garet Banner HBP, Connor Ollio W, Brtandon Fleeger W, Jacob Keene HBP, Ryan Lynn W, Justin Stewart W

Central Catholic (15-4): Vinny Rauso 1B. Andrew Walker HR 2-RBI, Max Cebulak 1B RBI, Brandon Boyce 2B, Ejiro Ogagan 2B 3-RBI, Austin Vigliotti 3B RBI