After managing just four hits in a shutout loss against the Slippery Rock Sliders Thursday night, Lorain (Ohio) County was looking to get its bats going early.

Against Butler on Friday, the Ironmen posted four runs in the third inning — capped by a two-run shot by Zak Blair — en route to a 7-4 Prospect League victory at Pullman Park.

The loss was the fourth consecutive for the BlueSox, who will travel for games Saturday and Sunday against the West Virginia Miners.

“Pete (Slavonic) was leaving some balls up a little bit,” BlueSox manager Anthony Rebyanski said. “He gave up four runs there. You’ve got to throw strikes. You’ve got to put the ball in play.”

Nate Tomaszewski opened the third inning with a double off the wall, then advanced to third on a fielder’s choice.

Michael Burke promptly lined a run-scoring single to open the scoring. After Slavonic fanned Andrew Kubuski for the second out, Sam Alvis had an RBI triple, then Blair followed with his home run for a 4-0 lead.

Nate Antone made it a five-run lead for the Ironmen in the fifth inning with a sacrifice fly.

All the while, Lorain pitcher Kevin Hughes limited Butler to three hits through five innings before the BlueSox rallied in the sixth inning.

Matt Berezo opened with a single before Shawn Houck homered. Taylor Juran singled and two wild pitches moved him to third base.

A walk to Chris Rasky put runners on the corners with no outs. Rasky attempted to steal second, then slowed down on the throw, which allowed Juran to trot home to make it 5-3.

Hughes walked and pinch-hitter Stephen Vranka reached on an error to put runners at first and second.

The BlueSox would attempt a double steal — Rasky beat the tag at third but overslid the bag and was tagged out. Then, Vranka was picked off trying to go to third to end the threat.

Lorain added insurance runs in the seventh and eighth innings — a fielder’s choice and an RBI single by Rubuski, respectively — to make it a 7-3 game.

Houck managed his second home run of the night in the eighth inning to account for the final run for the BlueSox.

“That’s why we try to put our best guy in the three-spot, to get him up in the first inning,” said Rebyanski. “I saw him do what he did at Kutztown. He drove the ball to all sides of the field.”

The BlueSox don’t have a day off until Monday and have two road games in Beckley, W.Va., this weekend.

Still, Rebyanski is confident his team will push through this drought.

“Our guys are mentally tough,” Rebyanski said. “Every day I get messages from guys and they’ll say ‘We got this one today.”

“You go to summer leagues and it’s all about individuals. You have to be selfish, but players 1- through-26 on this team are there for each other. This is a special group.”

Lorain 004 010 110 — 7 11 1Butler 000 003 010 — 4 7 0W: Kevin Hughes 5.1 IP (4K, 3BB).

L: Pete Slavonic 6.1 IP (1K, 4BB).

Lorain (3-5): Michael Burke 2-1B, RBI; Andrew Kubuski 2-1B, RBI; Sam Alvis 2B, 3B, RBI; Zak Blair HR, 2 RBI; Nate Antone 1B, RBI; Connor Weir 2B; Nate Tomaszewski 2B

Butler (3-5): Brian lares 1B; Matt Berezo 1B; Shayne Houck 2 HR, 1B, 3 RBI; Taylor Juran 1B; Chris Rasky 2B

Saturday and Sunday: Butler at West Virginia Miners