NEW CASTLE — Losing was difficult for senior shortstop Cory Wheeler.

The Butler baseball team didn't make any crippling mistakes during their first-round Quad A playoff game with Moon Friday night at Neshannock High School.

Eleventh-seeded Moon made more plays to scratch out a 3-2 upset win over the sixth-seeded Golden Tornado.

“We had a great year,” Wheeler said. “The work ethic of the team was amazing. Everybody loves each other, we're like brothers.”

Butler (13-6) rebounded from last season where it won two games to sharing the Section 3-AAAA crown with North Allegheny.

“They wanted to do the things to put Butler back on the map in the section,” Golden Tornado coach Todd Erdos said. “They did a tremendous job of setting the tone for next year's seniors.”

Moon (14-3) scored the winning run in the top of the seventh inning. Marco DeBlassio led off with a single off Butler starting pitcher Wyatt Daugherty.

One batter later, Austin Hoffman drew a walk and Rocco Maue followed with a single to put the Tigers ahead 3-2.

Finding a way to score against Daugherty was imperative for Moon. Tigers coach Dom Santeufemio worked on small-ball tactics all week.

“The guy (Daugherty) was 8-0, so we figured we'd work all week on moving the runners, hitting the opposite way and running,” Santeufemio said. “I think both teams were playing for one or two runs because they knew the score was going to be low.”

Kyle Campbell gave the Golden Tornado hope in the seventh, hitting a one-out double off Moon starting pitcher Nick Rozzo.

Rozzo picked up the win, striking out seven and allowing two runs.

Butler couldn't find a way to get the run across, striking out and flying out in its final two at-bats.

Moon scored first in the fourth inning when Ron Yardus singled in Mason Prickett.

Nick Patten tied the game for Butler in the bottom of the inning when he singled in Wheeler.

Wheeler finished 2 for 3 with a double and walk.

“He did a tremendous job and has been a tremendous leader for us all year long,” Erdos said. “He pretty much set the table for us and gave us some opportunities to win this game today.”

After Moon's Brian Casper blasted a home run to left field in the sixth inning, Wheeler again set the table in the bottom of the inning.

Wheeler doubled to lead off the inning and moved to third on Reid Werth's bunt single.

Garrett Gaslow then laid down a bunt and Wheeler made a mad dash to the plate.

Wheeler slid under the diving tag of Prickett to tie the game.

“Coach told me he was going to let Garrett take a swing and then swing,” Wheeler said. “I knew as soon as he let the ball go to take off.”

Moon had an opportunity to blow the game open in the seventh inning after Maue's go-ahead single. Erdos brought in Mark Gross after Daugherty pitched 6 1/3 innings.

Gross induced a line out that wheeler turned into a double play to strand a runner at third.

That gave Butler a chance.

“I thought our pitchers and Wyatt did a tremendous job of keeping them off the board,” Erdos said. “He had pressure on him every inning except one.”

Moon 000 101 1 — 3 9 0

Butler 000 101 0 — 2 5 0

W: Nick Rozzo 6 1/3 IP (7K, 1BB). L: Wyatt Daugherty 6 1/3IP (2K, 3BB).

Moon (14-3): Mason Prickett 2 1B, Colton Hower 1B, Austin Hoffman 1B, Brian Casper HR, Ron Yardus 2 1B, Marco DeBlassio 1B, Rocco Maue 1B

Butler (12-6): Cory Wheeler 1B 2B, Nick Patten 1B, Reid Werth 1B, Kyle Campbell 2B