Trent Bielak hits a single to drive in a run as the Butler BlueSox played the Pittsburgh Mustangs in a Rust Belt League baseball game Thursday, June 27, at Historic Pullman Park. Holly Mead/Special to the Butler Eagle

Missed opportunities came back to haunt the BlueSox.

In their first of three regular season meetings with the Rust Belt League foe Pittsburgh Mustangs, the Butler BlueSox fell 5-2 in 11 innings Thursday night.

Three wild pitches by BlueSox (5-7) relievers yielded as many runs for the Mustangs (5-7-1) in the top half of the last frame, rendering useless an effort in which the home team didn’t allow a hit for the final four innings and change.

The BlueSox left base runners in scoring position in the fifth, sixth, eighth, 10th and 11th frames.

In the bottom first, Zach Johnston clubbed a two-out triple over the center fielder’s head, and Trent Bielak’s shallow blooper behind second base brought him in two pitches later.

BlueSox starter Kiayuan Baskerville walked the first two he faced in the visitors’ second. Nick Walker later scored on a double steal from third, then Johnston’s throw from a Kenny Lavrich chopper to third beat Daniel Luko home. Lavrich came around on a Tyler Cote triple after that.

To put the lid on his outing, Baskerville retired eight consecutive batters. During that stretch, in the bottom fifth, Colin Solinski reached on an infield single and Justin Brannigan on a throwing error, putting runners in scoring position with one gone.

Chase Vrabel popped out to pitcher Logan Creamer, who then fanned Levi Laser to douse the threat.

Baskerville was yanked in favor of Noah Zadroga after five innings, having struck out five and walked three. Zadroga gave up a lead-off triple to Brandon Butler with his second pitch of the night, but shortstop Ben Aftanas’ throw on an ensuing grounder got to the dish before Butler for the tag.

Pittsburgh Mustangs’ Daniel Luko (10) slides into Butler BlueSox catcher Levi Laser at home plate in a Rust Belt League baseball game Thursday, June 27, at Historic Pullman Park. Holly Mead/Special to the Butler Eagle

Sean Connolly led off the bottom of the sixth with his second single of the contest. He moved to second on a sacrifice bunt, then Creamer gave Johnston a free pass and got the hook. Reliever Brian Pirone got Bielak to ground into a double play two pitches later.

Luko had a lead-off single and Zadroga walked Lavrich and Cote to fill the bases with one out in the top of the seventh. Zadroga got out unscathed, though, punching out Jordan Suvak and getting Brady Lane to ground out to short.

The BlueSox pulled even in the bottom of that frame as Conor Carney worked a lead-off walk and moved to second on a sac bunt and third on a wild pitch. Brannigan pushed him across by flying out to right field.

With no outs in the home 10th, Seth Helgert stood at second and Solinki at first after an intentional walk. Mustangs pitcher Andrew Cleeland fanned three consecutive BlueSox.

Mustangs 020 000 000 02 — 5 5 2

BlueSox 100 000 100 00 — 2 9 0

W: Andrew Cleeland 3IP (5K, 0BB). L: Tyler Danko 1.1IP (1K, 3BB)

Pittsburgh Mustangs (5-7-1): Brandon Butler 3B, Colin Marinpetro 1B R, Mason Roup 1B R, Nick Walker R, Daniel Luko 1B, Kenny Lavrich R, Tyler Cote 3B RBI

Butler BlueSox (5-7): Sean Connolly 4-1B, Zach Johnston 3B R, Trent Bielak 1B RBI, Conor Carney R, Colin Solinski 2-1B, Justin Brannigan RBI, Levi Laser 1B