In Butler's Prospect League season finale Friday night, the BlueSox fell behind early, made a run to make things interesting, then saw their chances of winning slip from their grasp.

It was, in fact, a microcosm of their season.

Butler trailed just 5-3 after seven innings, but a shaky defense did the Sox in as three late errors led to four unearned runs in an 11-3 loss to West Virginia at Kelly Automotive Park.

Butler (21-39) ends the season with nine straight losses.

“When things are going well, it can seem pretty easy,” said Butler manager Cody Herald. “But when they aren't going your way, one bad thing can lead to another if you let it. It becomes like a snowball.”

Tre Thomas made just his fourth start on the mound. His inability to throw strikes and that suspect defense hurt him early on.

Three walks and an error in the first inning led to a four-run frame for the Miners (30-29). Jonathan Pasillas did his part with a two-out, two-run double.

Thomas settled down, giving up just one run over the next four innings. But Butler's lineup mustered little against West Virginia's Brandon Liskey.

Nick Mancuso's run on a wild pitch in the second was all the Sox could score off the southpaw in his six innings.

It was Liskey's 11th pitching outing of the season and only his second start.

“We've been bringing him along,” said West Virginia manager Tim Epling. “He's been hot and cold this season and we used him mostly in short relief. We told him three days ago that he would be starting tonight so he had time to prepare mentally. I think that was key.”

Butler had success against West Virginia's first reliever, Sebastian Williamson. He walked Cole Shinsky and Ray Scala to begin the seventh before Dominick Bucko laced a run-scoring single. Jeff Wehler later singled home Bucko to cut Butler's deficit to 5-3, but the Sox could have had much more in the inning.

With no outs and runners on first and third, Scala was thrown out at home on a double-steal attempt. Wehler tried to stretch his single into a double and was nabbed for the third out.

“Our guys were just trying to be aggressive,” said Herald. “In both cases, Ray and Jeff were forcing the defense to make a great throw and they did.”

A year after playing in the league's title series, Butler's 2018 season yielded much frustration.

“You start out with 60 games and it doesn't seem like that much,” said Herald. “Then you get about 30 games in and bodies start to get tired and that leads to being tired mentally and swings start to get tired. You realize that it really is a long season.”

West Virginia 401 000 015 — 11 9 1

Butler 010 000 200 — 3 6 5

W: Brandon Liskey 6 IP (1K, 3BB). L: Tre Thomas 5 IP (4K, 5BB).

West Virginia (30-29): Maddux Houghton 1B 3B 3R, Phil Watcher 2-1B R RBI, Jonathan Pasillas 3-2B R 3RBI

Butler (21-39): Dominick Bucko 1B R RBI, Jeff Wehler 1B 3B RBI, Nick Mancuso 1B 2B R