Butler's offense bided its time against North Hills starting pitcher Anthony Rizzitano.

Through four innings, the Golden Tornado had managed one run on three hits against the Indians' right-hander.

Butler then scored four runs on five hits in the fifth frame and went on to a 5-1 win at Pullman Park.

“I think our hitters became more patient later in the game and we were able to get guys on base,” said Butler coach Todd Erdos.

Butler's Mike Hartman and Alex Ziegler led off the fifth with back-to-back singles and things started to unravel for Rizzitano.

Hartman scored on Colin Williamson's groundout to break a 1-all tie.

Mick Fennell and Cody Herald followed with RBI base hits and Rizzitano was pulled after the latter's single.

Later in the inning, with Christian Lejeune on the mound, Herald scored the Tornado's last run on Dalton Koebler's fielder's choice.

After a solid start to the game, Rizzitano was charged with all five runs after pitching 4 1/3 innings. He struck out one and walked one while giving up seven hits.

“He was throwing fine earlier in the game,” said North Hills coach Nate Buttenfield. “He just ended leaving some pitches up.”

Rizzitano's counterpart, Butler starter Mick Fennell, had no such problems late in the game.

After giving up a run-scoring single to Jared Heck that tied the game 1-1 in the top of the fourth inning, Fennell retired 10 of the last 11 batters he faced.

His complete-game victory included six strikeouts, no walks and six hits allowed.

Fennell stranded five North Hills baserunners in the first four innings, including ones at second and third in the top of the second inning.

“I've got a fastball, curveball and splitter,” he said. “When all three are working for me, I'm pretty comfortable. Early on tonight, my curveball wasn't there, but my splitter was.”

“He made pitches when he had to,” said Erdos of Fennell. “He kept us in the game and that's all you can ask out of a guy.”

The Tornado took a 1-0 lead in the bottom of the first inning when Williamson walked, stole second, moved to third on Fennell's groundout and scored on Herald's fielder's choice.

With the win, Butler improves to 6-1 in Section 1-AAAA and 10-1 overall.

The Tornado play section foe Pine-Richland (5-1) at Pullman Park tonight at 7 p.m.

“Some people may have doubted us, but we always knew we had the talent,” Fennell said of his team's impressive record.

Jon Costa pitched the final three innings for the Indians (5-6, 1-6).

North Hills 000 100 0 — 1 6 0Butler 100 040 x — 5 9 2W: Mick Fennell 7 IP (6K, 0BB).

L: Anthony Rizzitano 4 1/3 IP (1K, 1BB).

North Hills (5-6, 1-6): Taylor Schmidt 1B, Joel Leviere 1B, Mark DeVita 1B R, Bob Smith 1B, Jared Heck 2-1B RBI

Butler (10-1, 6-1): Colin Williamson 1B R RBI, Mick Fennell 2-1B R RBI, Cody Herald 2B R 2RBI, Bobby Swartwout 2B, Dalton Koebler RBI, Tyler Slepski 1B, Nate Bresnahan 1B, Mike Hartman 1B R, Alex Ziegler 1B R

Today: Butler vs. Pine-Richland at Pullman Park, 7 p.m.