With their 3-0 start, there haven't been too many issues with the Butler Blue Sox.

On Friday, one rough inning on defense proved to be the undoing.

West Virginia benefited from a pair of BlueSox errors in a three-run third inning on its way to a 5-2 victory in Prospect League action at Pullman Park.

“Early on, we had a couple of errors that cost us,” BlueSox manager Anthony Rebyanski said. “You make a double play on the ball to our shortstop, we make that play and there's two outs. You never know what might happen.”

Will Blalock opened the frame with a single off Blue Sox starter Dave Yakopec before Bradley Strong hit a grounder back to Yakopec. The throw bounced at the bag and rolled into center field to put runners at first and second.

Alex De La Rosa's sacrifice bunt was thrown wide of first base and two runs came in to score with De La Rosa pulling into third base.

Two outs later, Grant Williams lined an RBI double to make it 3-0.

“When you take a look at Thursday night (a 10-9 Blue Sox win over the Miners), there was a miscue at first base and that killed us,” West Virginia manager Tim Epling said. “It's ironic what happened. The ball got away (Friday) and we capitalized on it.”

Butler (3-1) would get runners on the corners in the home half of the third but Jason Radwan grounded out to end the threat.

Butler had several opportunities on the night, but stranded 11 runners while the Miners (3-1) left 12 on the base.

“They kept us off-balanced,” Rebyanski said. “A lot of balls were grounders. We know they were a little thin in pitching right now.”

Butler did slice the deficit to one run in the fifth inning when it took advantage of the wildness of Joe Candelmo, who had recorded five strikeouts and two walks entering the frame.

With two outs, Candelmo walked Ryan Richardson, Kyle Petty and Radwan to load the bases before Matt Albaugh lined an RBI single and Eric Hess earned an RBI via another walk.

Neal Jacobs promptly smashed a shot to deep center field that Joseph Williams was able to catch near the warning track.

“He hit that 425 feet,” Rebyanski said. “If that goes out that might break the game open for us.”

The Miners added another run in the sixth inning on a wild pitch to make it 4-2 before the Blue Sox threatened once again in the seventh inning. An error and two fielder's choices allowed Petty to reach third base. Hess drew a walk, then stole second to put runners in scoring position, but Jacobs grounded out to close out the frame.

West Virginia got the game's final run in the ninth on a balk call with the bases loaded.

“We gutted it out,” Epling said. “Butler is such a good team. For us to get a win, it was big for us. We played good defense and that's what we have to do.

“It was two good games (Thursday and Friday). People definitely got their money's worth,” Epling added.

Reybanski was not going to let the loss distract from what his team did in the opening homestand.

“We need to play a little better defense,” he said. “We need to clean that side up, especially on our artificial surface. We hope to bounce back at Richmond (Saturday).

“I'm really pleased how things have come together. We were 3-1 at home right off the bat. These guys are playing good baseball.”

West Virginia 003 001 001 — 5 7 2Butler 000 020 000 — 2 6 2W: Joe Candelmo 5.2 IP (5K, 6BB). L: Dave Yakopec 5 IP (5K, 2BB).West Virginia (3-1): Grant Williams 1B, 2B, RBI; Alex De La Rosa 1B; Joseph Williams 1B; Gray Stafford 1B; Kolin McMillen 1B; Will Blalock 1BButler (3-1): Elliott Caldwell 2-1B; Kyle Petty 2-1B; Matt Albaugh 1B, RBI; Neal Jacobs 1B; Eric Hess RBISaturday: Butler at Richmond