BUTLER TWP — Butler put together two big innings Wednesday afternoon, but needed another — and almost got it.

The Golden Tornado softball team used a five-run fourth frame to take a 5-2 lead on Shaler, then put together a six-run fifth inning to take an 11-10 lead Wednesday afternoon at Butler High School.

Trailing by a run entering the bottom of the sixth, Butler tied the game on a fielder's choice. The Tornado then had bases loaded and one out. But Autumn Pettinato lined out to the second baseman and Faith Hansotte flew out to right to end the inning.

Shaler pushed a run across in the seventh to escape with a 13-12 section victory.

“Yeah, a little bit either way and we probably win this game,” Butler coach Tina O'Donnell said of Pettinato's liner. “It just happened to be right at her.”

Despite the loss, O'Donnell is encouraged by her team's offense.

“We worked hard on our hitting in the off-season, got in a lot more reps,” she said. “We hit the weights and got physically stronger. Top to bottom, this lineup can hit the ball.”

The Tornado tallied 14 hits Wednesday. Shaler had 15, including a double by Kelsey Cordera leading off the seventh that set up the winning run.

The Titans (2-2, 1-1) loaded the bases with no outs in the seventh. Cordera was forced at the plate on a ball hit back to the mound, but the relay to first went into right field, allowing a run to score.

Butler (2-3, 1-2) went down in order in the bottom of the seventh.

“I thought we showed a lot of heart the way we kept coming back,” O'Donnell said.

Trailing 2-0 entering the bottom of the fourth, Butler's five-run inning was highlighted by Ali Graham's two-run double.

Graham was replaced on the mound to begin the fifth and Shaler exploded for eight runs. A bases-loaded triple by Vic Grayson keyed that uprising.

“Our girls battled hard today, but I have to credit Butler, too,” Shaler coach Tom Sorce said. “Thery battled as hard as we did.”

O'Donnell said she switched pitchers “because the top of their lineup wad coming up for the third time and I thought it was a good time to make a change.

“It didn't work out today, but we have four pitchers and we want to take advantage of that,” O'Donnell added.

Graham delivered a two-run single and No. 9 hitter Lauren Hesidenz a two-run double to spark Butler's six-run fifth inning.

Doubles by Jamie Lappe and winning pitcher Hunter Gray helped the Titans regain the lead in the sixth.

“It was just back and forth all day,” Sorce said. “We have a young team. It's never easy.”

Graham led Butler's attack with a 4-for-4 performance at the plate. She had a double, three singles, four RBI and three runs scored. Pettinato, Julia Gibson and Peyton Wheeler all had two hits for the Tornado.

Tori Martrand had a double, three singles and scored three runs for Shaler. Cordera had three hits and two RBI.

Butler plays at North Allegheny Thursday.

“This was a tough one today, but I like where our team is headed,” O'Donnell said.

Shaler 101 082 1 — 13 15 5

Butler 000 561 0 — 12 14 3

W: Hunter Gray 4IP (1K, 1BB). L: Ali Graham 6.2IP (4K, 4BB).

Shaler (2-2, 1-1): Tori Martrand 2B 3-1B RBI 3-R, Kelsey Cordera 2B 2-1B 2-RBI, Ella Richards 1B, Vic Grayson 3B 1B 4-RBI, Leah Schoemian 2B RBI, Jamie Lappe 1B RBI, Macy Woglemuth 2B RBI, Steph Ford 1B RBI, Hunter Gray 2B

Butler (2-3, 1-2): Autumn Pettinato 2-1B 2-RBI, Makenna Negley 1B 2-R, Julia Gibson 2-1B 2-R, Maddie Burke 1B 2-R, Ali Graham 2B 3-1B 4-RBI 3-R, Payton Wheeler 2-1B RBI 2-R, Kat Rudolf 1B RBI, Lauren Hesidenz 2B 2-RBI

Thursday: Butler at North Allegheny