JACKSON TWP — One mistake on a softball field can be costly.

Multiple mistakes can mean multiple runs — as they did for Seneca Valley Friday afternoon at Butler's expense.

The Raiders parlayed an infield error, outfield error and two mental mistakes into an eight-run third inning. The frame broke open a close game and led the Raiders to a 12-0, five-inning victory over the Golden Tornado at Raider Field.

“Yeah, we made them pay,” Seneca Valley coach George Trew said. “It was good to see us have a break-through inning like that.”

The Raiders (12-5, 9-5) led 2-0 going into the bottom of the third. Karli Hacker led off with a single to center. Maddie Gross followed with a sharp single up the middle that got through the center fielder for an error.

Olivia Madey's ground ball to second was booted. Madison Hans followed with a run-scoring single. Claire Zimmerman flew out to left field. A Seneca Valley runner was caught well of second on the play, but the ball was never thrown there.

Kearson Wagner lined a single to center and a rundown play was botched by the Butler infield. Julia Ehrman followed with a two-run triple, Mack Baker an infield single and Hacker a two-run homer to complete the onslaught.

“You make mistakes like that against a team that can hit the ball like Seneca Valley, you're gonna pay,” Butler coach Cait Baxter said. “We must have given them five or six outs that inning.

“We're not hitting. We're not fielding well. I'm very disappointed with these last three games.”

Butler (4-11, 3-11) has been outscored 35-0 in its past three contests.

Hacker's home run — her fourth of the season — was a towering blast to center field. The ball hit the scoreboard, sitting well behind the fence, halfway up.

“That's the longest home run I've seen hit at this field,” Trew said.

Hacker said she's hit one farther.

“It was last year sometime, at a field bigger than this one,” she said. “But that was my farthest this year.

“We finished the section season strong and got into the playoffs. That's the important thing.”

After dropping a pair of section games in a row, Seneca Valley has outscored Fox Chapel and Butler 25-2 in the past two games. The Raiders will finish either third or fourth in Section 2-6A.

“We're 9-5 in section and that's a good year,” Trew said. “We just have to be a little more consistent.”

Zimmerman tossed a four-hit shutout Friday, striking out four and walking no one. The Raiders put together an 11-hit attack against three Butler pitchers. SV received six walks as well.

Shelby Barnett, the Tornado's regular pitcher, was not at Friday's game.

“She was away on a trip,” Baxter said. “Shelby had pitched every game for us. Our last pitcher today (Makenna Negley) had never pitched since I've been here.”

The first five batters in SV's lineup — Wagner, Ehrman, Baker, Hacker and Gross — produced eight hits, seven RBI and scored seven runs.

Erinn Rinaman had two singles in as many at-bats for Butler.

Butler 000 00x x — 0 4 4

Seneca Valley 118 2xx x — 12 11 0

W: Claire Zimmerman 5IP (4K, 0BB). L: Emma Marak 2IP (0K, 3BB).

Butler (4-11, 3-11): Autumn Pettinato 1B, Erinn Rinaman 2-1B, Lauren Hesidence 1B

Seneca Valley (12-5, 9-5): Kearson Wagner 2-1B RBI, Julia Ehrman 3B 2-RBI 2-R, Mack Baker 1B RBI, Karli Hacker 1B HR 2-RBI 2-R, Maddie Gross 2-1B RBI, Madison Hans 1B, Maura Pasquale 1B, Haley Walter 1B

Monday: Knoch at Butler, Canon-McMillan at Seneca Valley