ROBINSON TWP — Tim Geibel and Dustin Uhlman found a way to extend Butler's baseball season.

But Anthony DeFabio ended it soon afterward.

DeFabio's solo home run in the top of the eighth inning Tuesday lifted Plum over the Golden Tornado, 4-3, in a WPIALClass AAAAquarterfinal at the Burkett Athletic Complex.

Butler trailed 3-2 entering the bottom of the seventh inning when Geibel singled to center. Eric King ran for him and moved to second on a passed ball. Uhlman fell behind in the count 0-2, worked it back to 3-2, fouled off two pitches, then singled to center to plate the tying run.

Geibel and Uhlman, the No.'s 3 and 4 hitters in Butler's batting order, had three hits each.

"We battled hard all day,"Butler coach Dave Florie said. "Our kids gave all they had against one of the best teams in the tournament.

"Another gutty effort by a very gutty team. ... I'm proud of them."

Plum (18-3) won its ninth straight game. The Mustangs averaged six runs per game during the previous eight, but struggled against Tornado left-hander Matt McCormick.

McCormick threw only 64 pitches in the first five innings, nursing a 2-1 lead during that time.

"We figured we'd be facing the left-hander and we prepared for it," Plum coach Carl Vollmer said. "We just didn't do a very good job of executing against him."

Plum scored first on a solo homer by Richie Navari — his first of the season — in the second inning. It was one of two hits the Mustangs mustered through the first five innings.

Butler (13-7) tied the game in the third, when, with two outs, Bill Coleman singled to center, Geibel walked and Uhlman blooped a run-scoring single to center.

The Tornado took the lead in the fourth when Darren Blakley's two-out single plated Ryan Armahizer.

Butler had 11 hits — all singles — but had a runner thrown out at the plate in the first inning and stranded runners in scoring position during the third, fourth and fifth frames.

Tim Geibel was thrown out trying to score from second on Ryan Geibel's two-out single to left.

"There were two outs, a soggy field — I'd make the same decision a million times in a row,"Florie said.

Butler stranded 10 runners. Plum stranded three.

The Mustangs rallied for the lead in the sixth. No. 9 hitter Kyle Simmons was hit by a pitch and Scott McGough reached on an infield single. DeFabio singled to center to score Simmons and tied the game. Clint White scorched a grounder down the third base line that took a bad hop past third baseman Nick Rossmiller and turned into a run-scoring double.

Plum had a 3-2 lead, runners at second and third with one out when Florie replaced McCormick with Zach Cuffman.

Cuffman struck out No. 5 hitter David Weifenbaugh and walked Navari. But on ball four, the ball bounced past catcher Ryan Geibel. DeFabio tried scoring from third, but was easily tagged out by Cuffman covering the plate.

But after the Tornado rallied in their final at-bat to get even, DeFabio spoiled the party with his fourth homer of the year, a towering blast that landed on the roof of the equipment building beyond the left-field fence.

"Anthony is the best clutch hitter I've had since I've been coaching," Vollmer said. "As he rounded third, I said, 'You're an animal. You are absolutely fearless.'"

Plum closer McGough, who allowed the Tornado to tie the game in the seventh, hit Jeff Slater with one out in the eighth. Butler was unable to get him into scoring position, however.

Tuesday's loss marked the final Butler baseball game for its 11 seniors:Ryan and Tim Geibel, Blakley, Slater, Armahizer, Cuffman, Rossmiller, Ken Rosenbauer, Coleman, McCormick and Greg Hays.

"Hey, I'm not disappointed today," Florie said. "I ask my team to go out and play baseball as hard as they can every game and they did that again today. "

Plum 010 002 01—4 7 2Butler 001 100 10—3 11 2W: Scott McGough (2 IP, 3 K, 0 BB).

L: Zach Cuffman (2Z\c IP, 4 K, 1 BB).

Plum (18-3) Scott McGough 1B, Jim Carr 1B, Anthony DeFabio 1BHR2-RBI, Clint White 2BRBI, Richie Navari HR, C.J. Stotler 1B,

Butler (13-7): Darren Blakley 1BRBI, Bill Coleman 1B, Tim Geibel 3-1B, Dustin Uhlman 3-1B 2-RBI, Ryan Geibel 1B, Ryan Armahizer 1B, Jeff Slater 1B