BUTLER TWP — Butler had the tying and go-ahead runs on base in the bottom of the sixth.

Butler's Alley Bartley steals second base during the Golden Tornado’s 10-1 softball loss to Norwin on Friday, April 19. Morgan Phillips/Butler Eagle (4/19/2024)

Norwin’s first nine batters in the top of the seventh reached base, the Knights scoring eight times in pulling away for a 10-1 softball victory Friday on the Golden Tornado diamond.

“A lot of our final scores aren’t indicative of the way six innings of that game were played that day,” Butler coach Kara Sroka said. “There’s always that one bad inning. We’re trying to get over the hump that way.”

Norwin (6-6, 5-5) won its third straight game, but not easily. The Knights scored twice in the first inning as Bailey Snowberger started the game with a triple to right. Diem Warzinski singled her home, then scored on Josey Michalski’s double to left.

Butler pitcher Kelsey Ogin settled down at that point, allowing only four hits over the next five innings. Only one Norwin base runner got as far as second base during that time.

“Their pitcher is good. She throws pretty fast,” Norwin coach Brian Messoth said. “I think we just timed her up a little better in the seventh.”

The Tornado (2-7, 1-7) got a run back in the bottom of the first when Alley Bartley singled to right, stole second, moved to third on a wild pitch and scored when Shylee Karenbauer was tagged out in a rundown between first and second.

Neither team scored again until the seventh — though the Tornado had their chances.

Bartley and Gracie Negley singled with two outs in the third inning, but were stranded. Negley and Karenbauer singled with one out in the sixth, but Lily Vicari flew out to left and Ogin hit a soft liner to shortstop top end the threat.

Then disaster struck in the seventh.

Norwin’s bottom three hitters in the batting order all reached to begin the inning. Lilly Holtzman doubled to right, Abby Grimes walked — the only free pass Ogin allowed all day — and No. 9 hitter Kyla Coyne reached to load the bases.

“Our offense has been up and down all season,” Messith said. “We put the ball in play in the seventh and made some things happen.”

Showberger’s would-be sacrifice fly to center field deflected off the outfielder’s glove, allowing two runs to score. The Knights followed with five consecutive hits to break the game open.

“All Class 6A softball teams are going to put the ball in play,” Sroka said. “The key is to get the outs when you can. They were able to put together a big inning against us.

“The tough part is our older players are pushing to move this program forward. They’ve taken ownership of it, by their choice. We can’t put pressure on ourselves that way as individuals. The important thing is to just trust yourself and go out and play the game.”

Both pitchers — Ogin and Norwin left-hander Abbie Telli — struck out eight and walked one. Telli, a sophomore, tossed her second complete game of the season.

Norwin 200 000 8 — 10 14 0

Butler 100 000 0 — 1 6 2

WP: Abbie Telli 7IP (8so, 1bb). LP: Kelsey Ogin 7IP (8so, 1bb).

Norwin (6-6, 5-5): Bailey Snowberger 3B 1B RBI 2-R, Diem Wardzinski 2-1B 2-RBI 2-R, Josey Michalski 2-2B 3-RBI, Izzy Deering 1B, Brooklyn Kotch 1B 2-RBI, Rachel Minteer 1B RBI, Lilly Holtzman 2B 1B, Abby Grimes 1B, Kyla Coyne 2-1B.

Butler (2-7, 1-7): Alley Bartley 2-1B, Gracie Negley 2-1B, Shylee Karenbauer 1B, Lily Vicari 1B.

Monday: Butler at North Allegheny

Butler's Kaela Mallis tries to tag Norwin out at second base but is unsuccessful during their softball game at Butler High School on Friday, April 19. Morgan Phillips/Butler Eagle (4/19/2024)

Butler's Kelsey Ogin bats during the softball game against Norwin at Butler High School on Friday, April 19. Morgan Phillips/Butler Eagle (4/19/2024)

Butler's Meghan Reay bats during the softball game against Norwin at Butler High School on Friday, April 19. Morgan Phillips/Butler Eagle (4/19/2024)

Butler's Kelsey Ogin pitches during the softball game against Norwin at Butler High School on Friday, April 19. Morgan Phillips/Butler Eagle (4/19/2024)

Butler's Kelsey Ogin bats during the softball game against Norwin at Butler High School on Friday, April 19. Morgan Phillips/Butler Eagle (4/19/2024)

Butler's Kelsey Ogin pitches during the softball game against Norwin at Butler High School on Friday, April 19. Morgan Phillips/Butler Eagle (4/19/2024)

Butler's Meghan Reay bats during the softball game against Norwin at Butler High School on Friday, April 19. Morgan Phillips/Butler Eagle (4/19/2024)

Butler's Kelsey Ogin pitches during the softball game against Norwin at Butler High School on Friday, April 19. Morgan Phillips/Butler Eagle (4/19/2024)

Butler's Kelsey Ogin pitches during the softball game against Norwin at Butler High School on Friday, April 19. Morgan Phillips/Butler Eagle (4/19/2024)

Butler's Kelsey Ogin pitches during the softball game against Norwin at Butler High School on Friday, April 19. Morgan Phillips/Butler Eagle (4/19/2024)

Butler's Kelsey Ogin pitches during the softball game against Norwin at Butler High School on Friday, April 19. Morgan Phillips/Butler Eagle (4/19/2024)

Butler's Kelsey Ogin pitches during the softball game against Norwin at Butler High School on Friday, April 19. Morgan Phillips/Butler Eagle (4/19/2024)

Butler's Kelsey Ogin practices her swing during the softball game against Norwin at Butler High School on Friday, April 19. Morgan Phillips/Butler Eagle (4/19/2024)

Butler's Lily Vicari is tagged out at second base by Norwin during their softball game at Butler High School on Friday, April 19. Morgan Phillips/Butler Eagle (4/19/2024)

Butler's Kelsey Ogin bats during the softball game against Norwin at Butler High School on Friday, April 19. Morgan Phillips/Butler Eagle (4/19/2024)

Butler's Alley Bartley throws the ball to centerfield during the softball game against Norwin at Butler High School on Friday, April 19. Morgan Phillips/Butler Eagle (4/19/2024)

Butler's varsity softball team has a team meeting centerfield after Norwin pulled ahead in the game 10-1 during their game at Butler High School on Friday, April 19. Morgan Phillips/Butler Eagle (4/19/2024)

Butler's Alley Bartley rounds third base with head coach Kara Sroka cheering her on during the softball game against Norwin at Butler High School on Friday, April 19. Morgan Phillips/Butler Eagle (4/19/2024)

Butler's Kelsey Ogin high fives Gracie Negley after striking a player out during the softball game against Norwin at Butler High School on Friday, April 19. Morgan Phillips/Butler Eagle (4/19/2024)

Butler's varsity softball team has a team meeting centerfield after Norwin pulled ahead in the game 10-1 during their game at Butler High School on Friday, April 19. Morgan Phillips/Butler Eagle (4/19/2024)

Butler's varsity softball team has a team meeting with head coach Kara Sroka centerfield after Norwin pulled ahead in the game 10-1 during their game at Butler High School on Friday, April 19. Morgan Phillips/Butler Eagle (4/19/2024)