BUTLER TWP — Jack Hudak put a hurting on the Tornado.

The Pine-Richland senior third baseman belted a towering two-run homer among three extra-base hits to help the Rams stay undefeated with a 7-3 victory over Butler in a WPIAL Class AAAA non-section baseball clash Friday evening at Highfield Park.

Hudak was 3-for-4, scored twice, drove in three runs and fell a single short of the cycle.

“He hit the ball real hard,” said Butler coach Todd Erdos. “You have to give him credit.”

“When he’s disciplined, which (Hudak) has been this year, he’s as good as anybody,” said Pine-Richland coach Kurt Wolfe. “He’ll hit with the best of them, that’s for sure.”

Butler missed an early opportunity to counter Hudak’s offensive outburst.

Pine-Richland starting pitcher James Fonzi walked three batters in the first inning to load the bases with two outs, but induced a grounder to shortstop from Nick Patten to end the threat.

“That was kind of a tough one to take,” said Erdos.

Pine-Richland’s David Laylock had given the Rams a 1-0 edge in the top of the first after scampering home on a passed ball.

“A couple of times, we shot ourselves in the foot and didn’t make a couple of plays when we needed it,” said Erdos.

The Tornado (1-4) tied it in the bottom of the second after Ryan McCrea was plunked to lead off the frame. An error, sacrifice bunt from Jake Stoner and sacrifice fly from Ryan Vero pushed McCrea home.

The Rams (4-0) immediately answered, as Shane Heim led off the top of the third with a single, stole second and scored on a Shea Sullivan single. Hudak then stepped to the plate and punished a pitch over the left-field fence.

It was the last batter Butler starting pitcher T.J. Rice faced after 2 1-3 innings of work, allowing four runs — three earned — with three strikeouts and three walks.

Jesse Savisky toed the rubber and gave up two runs — one earned — fanned six, and walked two over the next 3 2-3 innings to keep Pine-Richland within reach.

“He battled and showed something we can work with and use later on,” said Erdos. “He gave us an opportunity to climb back into it.”

Fonzi hurled the first four innings for P-R, before Matt Graf started the fifth. He walked Logan Maxwell, who came around to score following back-to-back singles from Patten and McCrea.

However, Graf settled down and struck out seven to secure the Rams’ win.

“Matt Graf just shut the door, which was beautiful,” said Wolfe. “Both (pitchers) came out here and gave us a really great opportunity to win the game. I credit those two big time.”

Although Butler suffered its fourth straight defeat, the Tornado pitching challenged a potent P-R offense, which was averaging over 12 runs per game heading into Friday’s contest. Rice, Savisky and Ryan Denny combined for 10 strikeouts of the Rams.

“We struck out more today than we did the other three games combined,” said Wolfe.

Erdos lauded catcher D.J. Perez for gunning down his first base stealer of the season.

“Overall, we gave a good effort out there,” said the Butler coach.

Pine-Richland 104 010 1 — 7 8 2

Butler 011 010 0 — 3 4 3

WP: James Fonzi 4 IP (1K, 4BB). LP: TJ Rice 2 1-3 IP (3K, 3BB). SV: Matt Graf 3 IP (7K, 1BB).

Pine-Richland (4-0): David Laylock R; Daane Berezo 1B; Shane Heim 2-1B, R; Shea Sullivan 1B, 2-R, RBI; Jack Hudak HR, 3B, 2B, 2-R, 3-RBI; J.T. Riley 1B, R, RBI

Butler (1-4): Ryan Vero 1B, RBI; Mike Hepler R; Logan Maxwell R; Adam Schaffner 1B; Nick Patten 1B; Ryan McCrea 1B, R, RBI

Saturday: Butler vs. Hempfield, Noon, at PNC Park