BUTLER TWP — Butler’s Cade Negley pitched well enough to win.

But Pine-Richland’s Ryan Okuda pitched nearly perfectly.

The Rams’ senior left-hander — headed to Virginia Tech next year — faced just two batters over the minimum, allowed two hits and three baserunners in shutting out the Golden Tornado, 1-0, Wednesday night at Kelly Automotive Park.

The loss snapped a five-game winning streak for Butler (8-5, 2-4). The Tornado have been blanked in all four of their section losses.

“He’s just a great pitcher,” Butler coach Todd Erdos said of Okuda. “His arm angle when he throws is such that he never elevates a pitch unless he wants to. He keeps everything down.

“His slider cuts away from right-hand hitters and he keeps you honest with a good inside fastball. We couldn’t get anything going against him tonight.”

Butler got one runner to second base all night. Isaiah Lucas singled to center with one out in the second inning and was bunted to second by Alec Bayer. Lucas was picked off second to end the threat.

The Tornado’s only other hit was a one-out single by Dallas Hays in the first. Lucas walked with one out in the fifth.

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