The first four and a half innings of Thursday's Tri-State Collegiate League baseball game was not kind to pitchers.

The Pittsburgh Diamond Dawgs and Butler Iron Bucks combined for 14 runs on 20 hits before Anthony Tucci and Patrick Gumto brought some order back to the mound.

The Dawgs' relief duo combined to allow just one run over the final five innings in Pittsburgh's 9-8 victory at Michelle Krill Field at Historic Pullman Park.

Tucci entered the game in the bottom of the fifth with the score tied at seven. The struggles of the pitchers who worked before him did not rock his confidence.

“I just cleared my mind and kept my composure,” he said. “My fastball and slider, those two pitches kept me on top.”

Pittsburgh's bats staked the Dawgs to a 9-7 lead in the top of the sixth when Kevin Vaupel's RBI-groundout plated the go-ahead run and Chris Gillette singled home another.

The Iron Bucks didn't go down easily, however. They loaded the bases against Tucci in the eighth and cut their deficit to one run with a run-scoring single from Josh Kieffer.

Gumto was brought in and quickly doused the rally, retiring five straight batters, four via strikeout, to close out the fifth consecutive win for Pittsburgh (5-2).

Tucci earned the win, allowing the one run in 3 1/3 innings while Gumto picked up a save.

“It was Anthony's command of his fastball that was the difference,” said Pittsburgh manager Jim Burns. “He controlled both sides of the plate with it.

“He's a tough kid. He always wants the ball and that's what we love about him.”

Andy McClymonds shouldered the loss. The Dawgs scored two runs against him in the fifth frame to tie the game, then two more in the next inning to take the lead for good. He was one of four pitchers used by the Bucks, following Butler graduates Shawn Marcellus and Isaiah Lucas and preceding Knoch graduate Alex Stobert, who held the Dawgs scoreless over the final three innings.

Marcellus pitched just one inning before being pulled due to a tight bicep muscle.

“We were looking to get several guys some work tonight,” said Butler manager Dan Helgert. “We split up the innings.”

Helgert watched his team tally 12 hits, but strand five runners in scoring position and left the bases loaded in the eighth.

“I liked what I saw out of the offense tonight,” he said. “We could have had a few more timely hits, but that's baseball.”

Mars graduate Brandon Wetherholt had two of Pittsburgh's 14 hits.

“We figured the offense would come around,” said Burns. “It's getting more consistent with more at-bats.”

Knoch product Jacob Herrit singled and doubled in a losing cause for Butler (3-3).

Diamond Dawgs 230 022 000 — 9 14 3

Iron Bucks 301 300 010 — 8 12 3

W: Anthony Tucci 3.1 IP (6K, 1BB). L: Andy McClymonds 2 IP (1K, 1BB). S: Patrick Gumto 1.2 IP (4K, 0BB).

Diamond Dawgs (5-2): Brandon Wetherholt 2-1B 2R RBI, Ryan Kalbfus 2-1B R 2RBI, Matt Wood 2-1B R RBI, Kevin Vaupel 2-1B R RBI, Chris Gillette 2-1B R RBI, Josh Burns 2-1B RBI

Iron Bucks (3-3): Kevin Rehak 2-1B R RBI, Josh Kieffer 1B 2B R RBI, Jacob Herrit 1B 3B R 2RBI

Sunday: Iron Bucks at Pittsburgh Pandas; Diamond Dawgs at Lake Erie