BUTLERTWP — With two pitchers down, Deann Tritinger stepped up.

The North Allegheny sophomore hurler retired 15 consecutive batters at one point and pitched a five-hitter in defeating the Butler softball team, 11-3, Tuesday.

Tritinger had been the Tigers' junior varsity pitcher before an arm injury to Amber Steenbeke and a back injury to Julie Heinl, NA's regular varsity pitchers, forced her promotion.

"Deann's done very well for us,"NA coach Joe Periera said. "She's stabilized things for us on the mound."

Butler took a 2-1 lead in the bottom of the first inning when Jenna Geibel singled and scored on Sadie Marak's single. Olivia Vasey walked and eventually scored on an error.

The Golden Tornado didn't get another baserunner until Erica Thrower's solo home run with two outs in the sixth.

"Our focus the past couple of days at practice was on executing better offensively,"Butler coach Lyndsay Millea said. "We talked about being more aggressive at the plate, knowing the count and swinging at good pitches.

"We hit a few balls hard, but right at people. We just couldn't get anything going."

While Butler dropped its fourth straight game — being outscored 29-5 in the process — to fade from the playoff picture, North Allegheny won its third in a row to stay in contention.

The Tigers, who had a season-high 15 hits Tuesday, are one game behind Shaler for the final playoff spot in Section 3-AAAA.

"We know we're going to have to win the rest of our section games to get in,"Periera said. "But our bats have come alive and we're making good plays defensively."

Sarah Moore had four singles and five RBIfor the Tigers while leadoff batter Jane Miner had a homer, double and scored three runs.

Millea is in her final year as Butler's coach. Her husband recently accepted a job in California.

"It was an opportunity he couldn't pass up,"Millea said. "It's going to be tough leaving now because I feel like we've got a solid foundation in place for this program.

"These girls have gotten a taste of what winning is like and they want more of it. They want to win the rest of our games this year and that's what we're going to try to do."

The Tornado started four freshmen — pitcher Angie Reddick, first baseman Amanda Skidmore, second baseman Vasey and third baseman Marak — in the infield. Shortstop Jenna Geibel, the team's best hitter, is a junior.

"There's a good mix of first-year players and experienced players here,"Millea said. "I want this team to gain some quality experience down the stretch.

"We can still upset some teams in section play. I want to leave this program on solid ground."

North Allegheny 101 403 2—11 15 2Butler 200 001 0— 3 5 4Deann Tritinger (W, 4K, 3BB) and Jocelyn Dimpel; Angie Reddick (L, 5K, 5BB)and Erica Thrower.

North Allegheny (6-7, 5-4): Jane Miner 2B HR3-R2-RBI, Christy Cotter 1B 2-R, Kelsey Fedell 2B 1B 2-RBI, Sarah Moore 4-1B 5-RBI, Katie Polley 1B, Beth Chidester 1B, Jocelyn Dimpel 2-1B2-R RBI, Mary DeMino 1B, Kelsey Bersic 1B

Butler (4-8, 2-6): Jenna Geibel 2-1B, Sadie Marak 2-1BRBI, Erica Thrower HR

Thursday: Butler at Fox Chapel