The momentum was with Seneca Valley.

The rain was not.

A rain delay ensued Tuesday night at Michelle Krill Field at Historic Pullman Park shortly after the Raiders scored three times in the top of the fifth to pull within two runs of Butler in a critical Section 1-6A baseball game.

The rain returned shortly after play resumed in the bottom of the fifth, setting up two Golden Tornado runs that proved key in Butler's 7-4 victory.

“This game was all about momentum at that point,” Butler coach Josh Forbes said of the bottom of the fifth.

After SV pitcher Ethan Edkins struck out the first two batters in the fifth, Cooper Baxter lofted a towering fly ball to left field. With rain pelting down, the ball skipped off the outfielder's glove for a two-base error.

Colin Patterson followed with a drive into the gap in right-center. As the ball trickled toward the wall, Forbes had one thing in mind.

“I was sending him home,” the Butler coach said. “On that relay, the second baseman had to make a perfect throw from 150 feet out in these conditions.

“If Colin's thrown out, we still have a 6-3 lead.”

The throw was wide of the plate as Patterson completed his inside-the-park home run for a 7-3 Butler lead.

The game played out in the rain — coming down hard at times. Mac Schnur relieved starter Madden Clement on the mound with two outs in the fifth.

With two outs and none on in the sixth, the Raiders rallied. Edkins and Conor Carney walked, Quinn Burke beat out an infield single and Ethan Baer was hit by a pitch to force in a run.

Schnur — who appeared to struggle gripping the baseball — gathered himself to strike out Owen Yarussi to end the inning.

“He was fine,” Forbes said of his relief pitcher.

Schnur retired the side in order in the seventh as Butler (11-5, 7-3) clinched second place in the section. Clement got the win, striking out seven in 4.2 innings.

Seneca Valley (10-6-1, 5-5) is in the WPIAL playoffs as well despite losing for the fourth time in five games.

“We've been snake-bit these last three games,” SV coach Eric Semega said. “First inning, second inning, third, fourth ... We get runners in scoring position and can't get the hit to bring them in.

“When that happens and the other team scores, everything just snowballs in a negative way.”

The Raiders stranded 10 runners on the night. Butler left one, though the Tornado had a few runners cut down on the bases.

“We only left 10?,” Semega marveled. “It seemed like it was more than that.”

Edkins threw 97 pitches in six innings, 71 for strikes. He fanned 11 and did not walk a batter.

“The effort and competitiveness were there,” Semega said. “He's our ace and he'll get the ball in our first playoff game.

“At times, Ethan made mistakes when he was ahead in the count. He left some balls up. Sometimes you have to give up six inches to set up your next pitcfh.”

Patterson and Brady Gavula had two hits each for Butler. Six of the Tornado's nine hits went for extra bases.

Butler scored four runs after two outs Tuesday night.

“This is the time of year you want to gut games out and play your best ball,” Forbes said. “This is a big win for us.

“A lot of these kids are back from last year. It's time to make some noise.”

Seneca Valley 000 031 0 — 4 6 1

Butler 210 220 x — 7 9 3

W: Madden Clement 4.2IP (7K, 4BB). L: Ethan Edkins 6IP (11K, 0BB)

Seneca Valley (10-6-1, 5-5): Conor Carney 2-2B, Quinn Burke 2B 1B RBI, Ethan Baer 1B RBI, Nate Malak RBI, Dustin Horn 1B

Butler (11-5, 7-3): David Leaslie 1B, Cooper Baxter 2B RBI 2-R, Colin Patterson 2B HR 2-RBI 2-R, Brady Gavula 3B 1B 2-RBI, Madden Clement 1B, Ethan Trettel 3B, Conner McTighe 2B

Monday: Bethel Park at Seneca Valley May 12: Moon at Butler