UPPER ST. CLAIR — David Leslie’s two-out single in the fifth inning wasn’t a knockout blow. But the Butler second baseman’s two-out knock was a hay-maker which rattled Peters Township’s chances of coming back.

Leslie’s single brought in two runs to help 12th-seeded Butler upset fifth-seeded Peters Township 5-3 during a WPIAL Class 6A first round baseball playoff game Thursday night at Boyce Mayview Park.

In the previous half inning, the Indians (13-7) got their first hit and plated two runs to cut the lead to one.

Butler, which had lost three in a row entering the playoffs, needed to show some fight.

“We tell our kids, you might hear us say it sometimes, to punch back,” Golden Tornado coach Cody Herald said. “A team comes out and puts two runs up, you pretty much got punched. Your job as an offense is to go and punch back, not back down.”

Leslie and the Golden Tornado (7-13) refused to yield. Colby Anderson and Nathan Stutz opened the top of the fifth with singles for Butler. After Peters Township pitcher Tom Colcombe induced two outs, Leslie slapped a pitch up the middle to bring in courtesy runner Logan Koegler and Stutz to stretch the lead to 5-2.

“I just wanted to pick up my teammates and knew I had to drive in those runs,” Leslie said.

Anderson, who pitched 5.2 innings to collect the win, gave Butler breathing room with excellent pitching. Anderson struck out six and didn’t allow a hit until Dom Campagna opened up the fourth inning with a double.

“I wanted to get quick outs,” Anderson said. “Keep the pitch count down, be efficient. “Keep the pitch count down, be efficient and get back in the dugout.”

Peters Township coach Joe Maize wanted to see his kids be more patient. He knew Anderson wouldn’t be easy to score against.

“When we looked at the ball games they lost, especially in section, saw there were tight games and looked at it and saw who was on the mound,” Maize said. “We knew we had our hands full with that young man and he did an outstanding job.”

Butler’s offense also shifted plenty of pressure on Peters Township’s defense. The Golden Tornado plated one run in each of the first three innings and finished with nine hits.

Simon Brown drove in a run on a fielder’s choice, Leslie scored on an error and John Ryan Herold brought Stutz home with a single. Stutz finished 3-for-4 at the plate.

“We just wanted to keep the ball in the middle, the gaps and keep driving it,” Leslie said.

Peters Township scored twice in the fourth when Campagna scored on a triple by Tom Lehman. Mac Ciocci brought in Lehman with a single.

Following Leslie’s single, Peters Township would only plate one more run. In the fifth inning, Dax Ploskina picked up a run with an RBI sacrifice fly. The Indians finished with four hits.

Butler never had a major combo or dropped the Indians with a big blow.

But the Golden Tornado’s persistent jab kept its unlikely playoff run alive.

“We challenged them the past couple days in practice to come with practice with the energy and attitude wanting to get better,” Herald said. “We struggled a little bit where it was kind of we made the playoffs and wanted to coast. We’ve been telling them it’s not a light switch. You can’t turn it off and on when you want.”

Butler 111 020 0 — 5 9 3

Peters Township 000 210 0 — 3 4 2

W: Colby Anderson 5.2 IP (6K, 3BB). L: Tom Colcombe 5 IP (6K, 2BB).

Butler (7-13): Nathan Stutz 3-1B, Simon Brown 1B RBI, John Herold 1B RBI, Logan Koegler R, Zach Slomers 1B, David Leslie 1B 2-RBI, Colby Anderson 1B.

Peters Township (13-7): Dom Campagna 2B, Mark Lehman 3B RBI, Mac Ciocco 1B RBI, Joe Pisarcik 1B.

Next: Butler vs. North Allegheny, WPIAL Class 6A quarterfinal playoff; site, time and date TBD