Early in Thursday's Tri-State Collegiate League baseball game, the Butler Iron Bucks wasted several good scoring opportunities.

In the first three innings, the team stranded five baserunners, including four in scoring position.

It took until the tenth inning, but the Bucks finally cracked the scoreboard in a 2-0 win over the Butler BlueSox.

Colin Cain's sacrifice fly with one out plated Noah Meyers for the first run and Ben Kosbie added insurance with a run-scoring single.

The Bucks (6-11) tallied 12 hits.

“We swung the bats well, but they (BlueSox) played well defensively,” said Bucks' manager Shawn Manning. “Both teams pitched so well. We grinded and figured it out in the end.”

Josh Probst doubled to begin the top of the 10th inning, followed by Noah Meyers drawing a walk against Sox reliever Brody Cowan, ending his outing on the mound.

Probst was forced out on a fielder's choice off the bat of Brent Creehan, but Dom Fellowes reached on an infield single to load the bases against Sean Furlong, the fourth pitcher of the game for the Sox.

Cain followed with his fly ball, which easily scored Meyers.

The Bucks' pitching, mainly starter Greg Geis, shut out an already frustrated Sox lineup.

A left-hander, Geis allowed just two hits in eight innings with seven strikeouts and three walks.

“His location was key tonight,” Manning said of Geis. “He's given us great starts all season. You could tell by the sixth inning he was getting tired, was leaving a lot of balls up. But he battled and figured it out.”

Slippery Rock High grad Ian Balquist pitched a scoreless ninth, stranding the winning run at second base, and was credited with the win.

Danny Fox worked a perfect bottom of the tenth for the save.

The Sox (5-13) tallied just three hits in the game.

“We hit the ball hard at times, but the aggressiveness just isn't there,” said Sox manager Dan Helgert. “We're searching and it's a frustrating point for us.”

Sox starter Andy McClymonds allowed eight hits in his seven innings, but consistently got the outs to keep the Bucks from crossing the plate. He struck out six and did not walk a batter.

“Andy always does well for us and he was good again tonight,” said Helgert. “He threw hard.”

Colby Anderson pitched a scoreless eighth before Cowan did likewise in the ninth.

Iron Bucks 000 000 000 2 — 2 12 2

BlueSox 000 000 000 0 — 0 3 1

W: Ian Balquist 1 IP (2K, 0BB). L: Brody Cowan 1+ IP (0K, 1BB). S: Danny Fox 1 IP (2K, 0BB).

Iron Bucks (6-11): Ben Kosbie 3-1B RBI, Josh Probst 2B 3B, Brent Creehan 2-1B R, Dom Fellowes 3-1B

BlueSox (5-13): Tyler Hettich 2B, Ryan Lynn 1B, Korey Shoupe 1B

Friday: DuBois at BlueSox

Saturday: Iron Bucks at DuBois (DH)