SHALER TWP — Shaler used small ball in a big way Friday at Matulevic Field.

The Titans put together three bunts and a Baltimore chop double over the third baseman’s head in a five-run sixth inning that pulled out a 6-3 high school baseball win over Butler.

While the victory keeps Shaler in contention for the Section 1-AAAA title, the loss slides Butler two games out of a playoff spot in the section standings.

“We need to win these last four and get a little help from somebody,” Golden Tornado coach Todd Erdos said. “Things are slipping out of our control a bit here.

“We lost four section games last year and wound up contending for the section title, so a lot of things can happen yet.”

Butler (9-4, 4-4) used some small ball of its own to take an early 2-0 lead Wednesday. Cory Wheeler walked with one out in the first inning, moved to third on a Mick Fennell single and scored on Dante Dorcy’s ground out to shortstop.

Dorcy doubled to right with one out in the fourth, moved to third on an infield out and scored on a wild pitch.

The Tornado stranded a runner at third in the first, fifth and sixth innings, however.

“We could have made things easier on ourselves, but we were missing the big hit today,” Erdos said.

Butler starting pitcher Fennell was nicked for a run in the fourth as Ryan Mincher walked, Jim Hughes singled to center and Tom Orr bunted the runners up. Mincher scored on Alec McElroy’s infield hit, but Fennell forced the Titans to leave the bases loaded.

“Small ball is how we play now, especially with the new bats this year,” Shaler coach Brian Junker said. “A lot of home runs are being left in the field of play these days.

“We practice bunting and baserunning all of the time. That’s a good way to win games at this level.”

Shaler trailed 2-1 entering the bottom of the sixth. Hughes walked and Orr singled to right. McElroy singled to left, plating Hughes with the tying run. Winning pitcher Tyler Temple then bunted two runners up a base.

With the infield in, Alex Conway grounded to shortstop Colin Williamson. Orr broke for the plate and Williamson threw to the plate. Orr retreated back to third and the bases were loaded.

No. 9 hitter Brandon Killian bunted toward first and the throw to the plate was too late to get Orr. Derek Sullivan then delivered a high chopper over third baseman Dalton Koebler’s head for a two-run double. Taylor Colamarino laid down a suicide squeeze bunt to bring across the fifth run of the inning.

“When you can execute those types of plays, they’re hard to stop and the wheels can come off,” Junker said. “Facing a pitcher like Fennell, we had to play that style of ball to win.”

Butler had two lead-off baserunners caught stealing with no one out in the third and fifth innings.

“They pitched out on the first one and we were trying to get a bunt down on the second one,” Erdos said. “Our runner broke too soon on a low pitch we couldn’t bunt.”

Temple theew 91 pitches and was pulled after allowing a single to Koebler and walk to Tom Bruce to begin the seventh. Derek Michel allowed a sacrifice fly by Williamson, but notched the save.

“I’ve got four or five solid pitchers available,” Junker said. “I’m not gonna take a chance on one guy tiring when I know there’s another guy who can come in fresh and get it done.”

The Titans won for the seventh time in eight games. Butler played without center fielder Alex Ziegler — our until at least Monday with a sprained ankle — and first baseman Matt Baranchak, who was on a college visit.

“There’s no room for error now,” Erdos said. “We just have to go after it.”

Butler 100 100 1 — 3 6 0Shaler 000 105 x — 6 7 0W: Tyler Temple 6IP (4K, 4BB).

L: Mick Fennell 6IP (6K, 3BB).

Butler (9-4, 4-4): Colin Williamson 3B RBI, Mick Fennell 2-1B, Dante Dorcy 2B RBI, Dalton Koebler 1B, Tom Bruce 1B

Shaler (11-3, 6-2): Derek Sullivan 1B 2B 2-RBI, Taylor Colamarino RBI, Jim Hughes 1B, Tom Orr 1B, Alec McElroy 2-1B 2-RBI, Brandon Killian 1B RBI

Saturday: Butler at North Hills, noon