Butler simply waited too long.

The Golden Tornado got seven of their eight hits with two outs, left five runners stranded in scoring position and squandered an outstanding pitching performance out of the bullpen by Nick Reamer in a 2-1 loss to Fox Chapel at Pullman Park Thursday night.

The game was originally scheduled for Wednesday night before lightning and rain caused it to be postponed. Butler was unable to find any two-out lightning 24 hours later.

“We kind of got our rallies started late with two outs in each inning,” said Butler coach Todd Erdos. “It's tough to get a guy in in that situation when you are counting on two-out hits. Credit to them. They got the outs when they needed to.”

Butler did get its only run on a two-out double by Ryan McCrea that brought home Mike Hepler in the bottom of the first inning. Adam Schaffner followed with a single, the third consecutive two-out hit in the frame by the Tornado, but the inning ended on a sharp line out to third by Drew Spangler.

Butler loaded the bases in the second inning with two outs, but Fox Chapel starter Bobby Killian got a harmless fly ball to end that threat.

Erdos lamented not sending Ryan Denny home on a sharp single by Nick Patten, the third straight two-out hit in that inning for the Golden Tornado.

“We probably had an opportunity there,” Erdos said. “I'm kind of kicking myself. It would have been a bang-bang play. That's the only thing I can think of that I would have done differently. Hindsight is perfect, though. We did have the middle of our order coming up.”

Spangler, Butler's starting pitcher, got out of his own jam in the second inning. Fox Chapel scored an unearned run in the frame and had the bases loaded with just one out. Spangler got a pop out to second and a ground out to third to escape.

Spangler, though, was lifted after the second inning for Reamer. Erdos said Spangler's velocity was sharply reduced from his previous outings this season.

“His arm seemed fatigued,” Erdos said. “I just didn't want to push it. He probably could have went more, but I wasn't quite seeing what I know he could do out there. I didn't want him to get hurt.”

Reamer, a left-hander, was masterful in relief. He struck out seven and didn't allow a hit in five innings.

“Reamer pitched tremendously,” Erdos said. “I couldn't have asked for more from him.”

Fox Chapel scored the winning run in the fifth when leadoff hitter Taylor Huber walked, stole second, moved to third on a sacrifice bunt and scored on a ground ball to the right side of the infield.

“In a 2-1 game, pitching and defense is going to have to win you the game,” said Fox Chapel coach Michael Frank. “We were able to get ourself some runs and out of some innings because of situational play. I'm happy about that.”

Killian got the win, working 5 2-3 innings, striking out two.

Josh Dunlap picked up the save, striking out three of the four batters he faced. He had a big strikeout to end the sixth with Reamer on second after his second hit of the game.

“Josh Dunlap came in and did a great job getting out of the sixth,” Frank said. “Then in the seventh, he was just phenomenal.

Butler (1-8, 0-2) has now lost eight straight games.

Still, Erdos is optimistic with many section games still ahead, including a big one at North Allegheny tonight.

“It's early. It's two games into the section schedule,” Erdos said. “Every section game is a battle and they tend to all beat up on each other. I like the direction we're heading in. We just have to capitalize on some situations and make some breaks go our way.”

Fox Chapel 010 010 0 — 2 2 0

Butler 100 000 0 — 1 8 2

W: Bobby Killian 5.2IP (2K, 0BB). L: Nick Reamer 5IP (7K, 3BB). SV: Josh Dunlap 1.1IP (3K, 0BB)

Fox Chapel (4-2, 2-0): Joe Palumbo 3B, Josh Anderson 1B RBI

Butler (1-8, 0-2): Ryan Vero 1B, Nick Patten 1B, Mike Hepler 1B, Ryan McCrea 2B RBI, Adam Schaffner 1B, Reamer 2B 1B, Ryan Denny 1BToday: Butler at North Allegheny, 7 p.m.