BUTLER TWP - The tide was starting to turn against Butler in its softball game against North Hills Friday.

Then the Tornado turned it back.

After the Indians scored the equalizing run in the top of the fifth inning, Butler bounced back with four runs of its own in the home half off the inning and went on to post a 6-2 victory.

After Butler had taken a 2-0 lead on three hits in the first inning, Butler didn't have another hit until the fifth inning, just after North Hills battled back.

"We had some errors, but we were able to bounce back and get those runs," said Butler coach Tanya Schnur.

"I told the kids that they needed to get that enthusiasm back from the first inning. I told them it was a new game, zero-zero," she added.

Butler opened the fifth inning on a triple by Ali Schnur down the right-field line. On the next pitch, Kara Deal lined an RBI double down the left-field line to give Butler the lead.

Heather Spangler followed with a run-scoring single and advanced to second base on the throw to home.

An error on a fielder's choice off a grounder by Sara Hamil allowed Spangler to score.

After Amy Ferrari popped up for the first out, Nikki Cranmer smacked an RBI double for the 6-2 lead.

"That's definitely the best thing we've done all year," said Schnur. "We talked all year about getting someone on base and getting them in. We've gotten leadoff hitters on and left them stranded at third base."

North Hills pitcher Lauren Weichel had settled into a groove before the fifth-inning uprising.

"They just got to see her a couple of times and then they knew how to hit her," said Indians coach Diane Oberst. "They knew what to expect.

"We had three errors in the game, and I don't think we've had three errors in a game all season," Oberst added.

Butler opened its half of the first when Schnur and Deal singled and Spangler drew a walk to load the bases.

One out later, Ferrari had an RBI single, then scored its second run on a fielder's choice.

With the bases still loaded, Weichel got Kaitlin Carson to strike out and Leah Geibel to ground out to end the threat.

North Hills got one run back in the third inning when, with two outs, Lauren Wiegand reached on an errant throw and advanced to second base.

A single by Aubrey Reed drove in Wiegand and Reed advanced to second on the throw to home. Butler pitcher Megan Marra then induced Stephanie Spisak to line out to Ferrari at second base to close out the inning.

The Indians tied the game in the fifth when, with two outs and a runner at first base, Wiegand reached first base on an error. When the ball rolled out of play, Maura Wahl was allowed to come around to score the tying run.

Reed then lined out to keep the game tied at 2.

"You just can't win the ballgame when you get just (four) hits," Oberst said. "We haven't been a high-scoring team all season. We were hitting the ball right at them."

"Megan pitched a great game for us and, for the most part, our defense played a great game" said Schnur.

"Our goal is to try and beat everyone in the section the second time around," she added.

North Hills 001 010 0 - 2 4 3

Butler 200 040 x - 6 10 2

WP:

Megan Marra (7 IP) 1 strikeout, 0 walks.

LP:

Lauren Weichel (4

IP) 3 strikeouts, 2 walks

North Hills (7-4, 3-3):

Megan Holyfield 3B; Stephanie Spisak 1B; Maura Wahl 1B; Aubrey Reed 1B; Lauren Wiegand R

Butler (6-8, 2-5):

Ali Schnur 1B, 3B, 2 R; Kara Deal 2-1B, 2B, 2 R, RBI; Heather Spangler 2-1B, RBI, R; Amy Ferrari 1B, RBI; Nikki Cranmer 1B; Leah Geibel2B, RBI; Kelly Anzaldi R

Monday:

Butler at North Allegheny