SLIPPERY ROCK— The crowd was on its feet as the players were introduced. They were on their feet as the final out was recorded.

For the first time in 55 years, professional baseball was played in Butler County when the Slippery Rock Sliders edged the Florence (Ky.)Freedom, 3-2, Tuesday night in Frontier League action at Critchfield Park.

A little more than 1,000 tickets were sold for the Sliders' home debut, which ended when closer Greg Lasinski recorded his third save by striking out Ryan Basham with the tying run on first base.

"Every kid I saw in this place tonight had a smile on his face,"said Slippery Rock University athletic director Paul Lueken. "That's the important thing."

While between-inning fun and games kept fans entertained, Sliders left-hander Zac Cline kept Florence hitters at bay with a tantalizing changeup.

"That's his No. 1 pitch, and when he's getting it over the plate, he's tough,"Sliders manager Greg Jelks said.

Cline threw 94 pitches in seven innings Tuesday, allowing two baserunners. Greg Stone, the Freedom's No. 2 hitter, singled twice off Cline, who struck out six and walked none.

Cline threw 67 strikes and went to a three-ball count only once.

"I had a good mix working,"he said. "My slider was effective against their left-handed hitters, and (catcher)Travis Chapman called a great game. I didn't shake him off once."

Through 12 innings in his two Slider starts, Cline has allowed one run, struck out 11, walked one and has two wins.

He began this season in spring training with the Philadelphia Phillies.

"I'm a bit ahead of the game right now because I pitched a lot in the spring," he admitted.

"No question, that's our ace,"Jelks said of Cline. "He's the only pitcher I have with pro experience. He's the leader of our staff and he's pitching like it."

Cline received all the offense he needed Tuesday from first baseman Jason Von Behren.

The Sliders entered the game with a .185 team batting average. Von Behren was hitting .124 (3-for-21) with two RBI. He collected a pair of singles and three RBI in this game.

His two-run single with the bases loaded in the fourth gave the Sliders a 2-0 lead. He added a two-out run-scoring single in the sixth.

"That felt good,"Von Behren said. "We're gonna hit. It's a matter of time. We just have to hang together as a team until it happens."

Cline agreed.

"We're slow out of the gate because a lot of these guys are using wooden bats for the first time,"he said. "Our hitters will adjust."

Jelks isn't worried about his team's batting average, which is dead last in the Frontier League. The Sliders managed only five singles Tuesday and have hit only two home runs in seven games.

"It's not a concern yet," the manager said. "Offense is generally slow to come around in this league."

Notes: Lena Skeele, a fourth-grader at Slippery Rock Elementary School, sang the national anthem. ... There were three ceremonial first pitches. Dr. Amy Walters was one of 10 people to enter the word Sliders in the Name the Team contest. Slippery Rock Township supervisor John Hines and Jim Carroll, vice president for public affairs for Dollar Bank, also threw out first pitches. ... Sliders general manager Steve Tahsler received a plaque for being named Frontier League Executive of the Year with the Evansville (Ind.)Otters last season. Jelks, manager of the 2006 league champion Otters, received his ring during pre-game ceremonies.

Florence 000 000 101—2 6 1Slippery Rock 000 201 00x—3 5 0Dane Mason (L, 3 K, 3 BB), Brian McCullough (6, 0 K, 1 BB), Matt Marksbury (6, 2 K, 0 BB), Jon Troop (8, 2 K, 0 BB) and Josh Lex; Zac Cline (W, 6 K, 0 BB), Derek Duclos (8, 1 K, 0 BB), Greg Lasinski (9, SV, 2 K, 0 BB) and Travis Chapman.

Florence (2-5): Greg Stone 2-1B, Tim Grogan 2B, Beau Blacken 1BRBI, Joe Holland 2B, Dan Guttridge 1BRBI

Slippery Rock (3-4): Cy Donald 1B2-R, Nate Yoho 1B, Jason Von Behren 2-1B 3-RBI, Jason Curry 1B

Today: Florence atSlippery Rock, 7:05 p.m.