BUTLER TWP - North Allegheny's girls softball team put together the perfect game - almost.

The Tigers pounded out 18 hits - including five home runs - and tossed an abbreviated no-hitter at Butler en route to a 15-0 victory here Tuesday afternoon.

Not one North Allegheny player struck out while Becca Rich and Stephanie Smith combined to strike out nine Butler hitters.

"They're playing at a different level than we are right now," Butler coach Tanya Schnur said.

The only Tiger blemish occurred in the bottom of the first inning. Golden Tornado leadoff batter Dana Gillis slapped a ground ball to third and reached base when NA first baseman Sam Goettman mishandled the throw for an error.

Winning pitcher Rich retired the next 12 Tornado batters before Smith finished the five-inning contest with a 1-2-3 fifth.

"We broke loose today," North Allegheny coach Rick Meister said. "I have a lot of respect for Butler's program. They always play us tough. When we come up here, it's usually a one or two-run difference."

North Allegheny is the defending section champion and lost the WPIAL championship game to Mt. Lebanon last spring. The Tigers graduated only two starters from that squad.

"That team can always hit the ball," Schnur said. "We knew they would come out here and hit. They were just outstanding."

Goettman made up for her fielding miscue by going 4-for-4 at the plate, collecting three RBI and scoring twice.

Goettman's solo home run to center field leading off the second got the Tigers on the board. Lauren Vrabel added a two-run shot later in the inning.

North Allegheny added three homers during a nine-run fifth inning. Dory Nunley hit a two-run homer and Nicole Lenart homered twice in the frame.

Lenart led off the inning with a homer to center. She added a two-run homer to left as the Tigers collected 10 runs and 11 hits while sending 15 batters to the plate in the fifth.

North Allegheny did not homer at all in its first two games - a 3-1 loss at Ambridge and a 6-3 win over Connellsville.

"I've never had a team hit five home runs in a game before," said Meister, now in his 12th year at NA. "I'll probably have to wait another 12 years to see it again.

"As far as (Lenart's) two homers in one inning, I know I've never seen that."

Butler put the ball in play only six times and never hit a ball to the outfield in getting shut out for the third consecutive game.

"We're working on just putting the bat on the ball and making the fielders get us out," Schnur said. "We're working on bunting and slapping the ball.

"Our section has some tremendous pitchers and that's what we have to do."

N. Allegheny 032 0(10)x x -15 18 1

Butler 000 00x x - 0 0 3

WP:

Becca Rich (4 IP) 8 strikeouts, 0 walks.

LP:

Kelly Reges (5 IP) 0 strikeouts, 0 walks

North Allegheny (2-1):

Lauren Vrabel HR 1B 2-RBI, Brittany Bennett 2-1B 2-RBI, Nicole Lenart 2-HR 1B 3-RBI, Amy Phillips 3-1B, Dory Nunley HR 2-1B 3-RBI, Sam Goettman HR 2B 2-1B 3-RBI, Ali Morse 1B RBI

Butler (0-4):

No hits

Today:

Butler @ North Hills