BUTLER TWP — A win is a win.

Butler committed six errors and allowed a batter laying down a first-inning bunt to circle the bases Friday afternoon. But the end result was a 15-4 Golden Tornado softball victory over Oakland Catholic.

“We were hoping for a confidence builder today and we delivered with the bats,” Butler coach Dan Hindman said. “We have a strong, solid lineup.

“We played an error-free, crisp game (Thursday) against North Allegheny. I'm not sure what happened today. Maybe it was the cold air. Maybe it was the team we were playing. Obviously, we have to do better.”

Oakland Catholic has been outscored 26-4 in its two games thus far this season. The Eagles committed seven errors in less than five innings Friday.

WPIAL champions in 2002, the Eagles were not permitted to compete in the WPIAL for two years recently. Dan Kornosky is in his first year as head coach.

“We have eight seniors and a lot of girls playing fast-pitch softball for the first time,” Kornosky said. “We only had one hit and drew one walk in our first game.

“We're just looking to make progress right now. We're trying to build the program back up.”

Oakland Catholic took a 2-0 lead in the top of the first inning as leadoff batter Jenna Sciulli walked, stole second and advanced to third on an errant throw. Angela Sciulli laid down a bunt.

A fake throwing motion toward first caught the runner off third, but the throw to the plate struck Jenna Sciulli in the shoulder. As the ball bounced away, the bunter raced toward second base. The throw there sailed into the outfield and she was able to score.

“That's a play we have been working on. We just didn't execute it,” Hindman said. “Sometimes failure has to come first. If that situation happens again, maybe we'll make the play.”

The Golden Tornado more than made up for the miscue in the bottom of the inning, scoring five times. Mackenzie O'Donnell had a two-run single and Rhiannon Kosar a run-scoring double to highlight the frame.

Butler added on from there, scoring three runs in the second without the benefit of a hit and tacking on four runs in the third. Rachel Rebmann had a two-run double to deep center to spark the latter rally.

Butler scored just four runs in its first three games this season.

“In some ways, I feel like we're starting from scratch,” Hindman said. “Cait Baxter and Mackenzie didn't play last year, we have a couple of freshmen in there and Rhiannon is a sophomore and first-year varsity player.”

Aubrey Schmeider ended the game via the 10-run rule by producing a two-out, two-run triple to center in the fifth inning. Schmeider led Butler with three RBIs, Baxter scored four runs and Emily McDonald three.

Winning pitcher McDonald struck out seven, including four in the second inning. One batter reached when the third-strike pitch eluded the catcher.

“Emily's been like the rest of the team so far — consistent at times, inconsistent at other times,” Hindman said.

McDonald allowed only three hits and walked two.

“We're trying to make more consistent contact, put the bat on the ball,” Kornosky said. “We were a little better at that today.”

Schmeider and Baxter had two hits for the Tornado. Ten different Butler players scored runs on the day.

Oakland Catholic 210 10— 4 3 7

Butler 534 03— 15 9 6

W: Emily McDonald 5IP (7K, 2BB). L: Penelope Bauer 4.2IP (2K, 2BB).

Oakland Catholic (0-2): Maria Wilkinson 2B, Penelope Bauer 1B, Karlie Kirk 1B RBI

Butler (1-3): Cait Baxter 2-1B 4-R RBI, Emily McDonald 3-R, Rachel Rebmann 2B 2-RBI, Mackenzie O'Donnell 1B 2-RBI, Aubrey Schmeider 3B 1B 3-RBI, Rhiannon Kosar 2B RBI, Madison Graham 1B RBI, Noel Pfabe 1B

Monday: Butler at Fox Chapel