As the seventh inning unfolded Tuesday night at Pullman Park, unpleasant memories floated through the head of North Allegheny baseball coach Andy Maddix.

NA led 2-0 and allowed just two hits through six innings, but the Golden Tornado suddenly had runners at first and third with no outs in the bottom of the seventh.

In a crucial section game late last season, Butler rallied past the Tigers to prevail in a pitching duel.

“I was having flashbacks to last year,” admitted Maddix. “We were up late. Next thing you know, they came back and beat us.”

This time, the Tigers escaped.

Jason Monper wiggled out of the jam to outduel Butler’s Adam Schaffner in the Tigers’ 2-0 victory over the Golden Tornado in a WPIAL Section 1-AAAA baseball clash.

Both pitchers tossed a complete game and struck out five, but Monper — and the defense behind him — sent Butler (1-14, 0-8) to its 14th consecutive defeat.

The North Allegheny junior didn’t allow a baserunner until a two-out double in the fourth from Cory Wheeler spoiled the bid for perfection. A two-out double in the fifth from Kyle Campbell marked the only other member of the Tornado to reach base until the seventh.

Efficiency was Monper’s greatest strength. He didn’t reach a three-ball count all game and threw just 78 pitches.

“He threw a lot of strikes,” said Maddix. “He’s a competitor. He’s a bulldog.”

Wheeler led off the final frame with a single and Schaffner followed with a flare to shallow right field, putting runners at first and third with no outs.

Maddix considered pulling Monper in favor of Mitch Machi, but decided to give the starter a little more leash.

“I was probably about one hitter away,” said the NA coach.

However, Monper struck out Mike Hepler and induced a grounder to third from Ryan McCrea for a game-ending 5-4-3 double play.

The twin killing stamped a stellar defensive performance from the Tigers (13-4, 5-3).

Center fielder and Slippery Rock University recruit Jimmy Divosevic stole a hit from Garrett Goslaw in the third with a full-extension diving grab and made a tough running catch on a sinking line drive from Jake Stoner in the very next at-bat. Second baseman J.T. Zeitler robbed Wheeler in the first inning with a lunging catch in shallow right field.

“We’ve been pretty good defensively. Our pitching staff and our defense, especially in the second half of the season, has been outstanding,” said Maddix. “We’re not scoring a ton of runs, but our pitching staff is doing such a good job right now that they’re keeping us in ball games.”

Butler committed two errors, one in each of the innings North Allegheny mustered a run.

“It was a good pitchers duel. Both guys pitched well. Unfortunately, they just pitched a little better than us and came out on the winning end,” said Butler coach Todd Erdos. “We had two errors, they didn’t make any and made a couple of good defensive plays that were probably the difference in the ball game.”

Schaffner struck out five, walked one, scattered six hits and only one run was earned. The senior right-hander threw 99 pitches.

“Schaffner pitched a great game out there. He made some good pitches when he had to and left some runners on base,” said Erdos. “We just came up short.

“He was locating his fastball and working ahead of the hitters. That was a big factor,” he added. “He gave our team a chance to possibly tie or win that game.”

Despite Butler’s extended skid, Maddix knew the Tornado wouldn’t be a pushover.

“I had a bad feeling coming up here,” said Maddix. “We knew we were going to be in a dog fight.”

North Allegheny 001 100 0 — 2 6 0

Butler 000 000 0 — 0 4 2

W: Jason Monper 7 IP (5K, 0BB). L: Adam Schaffner 7 IP (5K, 1BB).

North Allegheny (13-4, 5-3): James Meeker 1B, RBI; Jimmy Divosevic 1B; Justin Dattilo 1B; Jason Monper 1B, R; Sean Fitzgerald 1B, R; Mitch Machi 1B, RBI

Butler (1-14, 0-8): Cory Wheeler 2B, 1B; Adam Schaffner 1B; Kyle Campbell 2B

Today: North Hills at Butler, Pullman Park, 7 p.m.