BUTLER TWP — Two softball teams with similar goals — building a consistent winner — clashed at Butler on Friday.

Previously winless Baldwin (1-16, 1-13) held off the Golden Tornado, 8-4, sending Butler (2-12, 2-11) to its sixth straight loss. Butler had no seniors in its lineup, Baldwin had one.

“We’re still moving players around, trying them at different positions,” Tornado coach C.J. Gattens said. “One thing we have to do is not wait until the sixth inning to get some confidence at the plate.”

Junior pitcher Anna Schumacher retired the first 10 Butler hitters she faced, seven of them via strikeout. The Highlanders built a 3-0 lead in the meantime as Jordan Gerendash led off the game with a home run to left. Kaylee Smolko added a run-scoring single in the frame and Avery Herrington had an RBI single in the third.

All four Butler runs were unearned. Alley Karenbauer doubled to center with one out and scored on a two-out infield error. The Highlanders dropped two fly balls and Kelsey Ogin delivered a two-run single in the sixth as Butler scored three times to cut the gap to 6-4.

“That’s been our story,” first-year Baldwin coach Ron Santillo said of the fielding miscues. “We’be been close in a few games, just haven’t been able to get over the hump.

“We’re playing a lot of freshmen and sophomores this year. We were pretty aggressive getting an extra run in the seventh because you never know what’s going to happen.”

Baldwin scored twice in the seventh to double its lead. Herrington reached on a three-base error and scored on a sacrifice fly. Keira Platz was hit by a pitch, her courtesy runner moving to second on an errant pickoff attempt, to third and across the plate on a pair of wild pitches.

Schumacher wound up striking out 11, walking none and allowing four hits.

“She pitched a nice game against us,” Gattens said.

“Anna put it all together today,” Santillo said. “This was her most consistent game and that was good to see.”

Baldwin has won 10 WPIAL championships in its softball history. Gattens, a Baldwin graduate, played on the Highlanders’ 2001 title team, the program’s last. Baldwin lost to Hempfield in the 2016 championship game.

“We’re trying to build the program back up,” Santillo said. “We’re working with the youth program and the middle school level as well. We have some talented young players.”

Ogin is fighting a shoulder strain and did not pitch for Butler on Friday. She was the designated player. Gattens lists her as day-to-day in terms of returning to the circle.

Kierra Smith, a sophomore, tossed a complete game for the Tornado, striking out seven.

“This game will give Kierra some experience and confidence in games coming up,” Gattens said. “She knows she can get it done.“

Baldwin 201 003 2 — 8 12 3

Butler 0000 103 0 — 4 4 4

WP: Anna Schumacher 7IP (11so, 0bb). LP: Kierra Smith 7IP (7so, 4bb).

Baldwin (1-16, 1-12): Jordan Grenendash HR 1B 2-R, Ryley Shaw 2-1B 2-RBI, Gabriella Jaquay 3-1B RBI, Kaylee Smolko 1B RBI, Avery Herrington 2B 1B RBI, Angelina Caparoli 1B RBI, Lacey Bonetti 1B.

Butler (2-12, 2-11): Alley Karanbauer 2B, Gracie Negley 2B RBI, Kelsey Ogin 2-1B 2-RBI.

Monday: Butler at Seneca Valley