SLIPPERY ROCK — Patience paid off for the Slippery Rock Sliders on Friday night at Jack Critchfield Park.

A lengthy rain delay preceded the game against the Butler BlueSox and Slippery Rock came agonizingly close to securing a victory in the 10th inning.

One frame later, however, the Sliders sent their fans home happy with a 5-4 victory when Jon Capasso sent a 1-2 pitch over the right fielder's head and scored James Lundstrom for Slippery Rock's fifth win in a row and sixth in its past seven games.

“(Capasso) leads us in hitting. ... He's the guy you want to have up in that situation,” said Slippery Rock manager Andy Chalot.

Capasso knew exactly what he needed to do with the bases juiced and Butler still searching for the first out of the frame.

“Just get a pitch to drive,” he said. “Something in the air. Something deep enough to get the run in.”

It was plenty deep, soaring toward the warning track in right to give the Slippery Rock faithful a conclusion that was worth waiting for.

The extra-inning win vaulted the Sliders (9-6 second half) to first place in the Prospect League's East Division, a half game up on Lorain County.

“It's too early to be worried about (the standings),” said Chalot. “We just have to stick with the plan: Be happy about the win we had tonight, cherish it when you go to sleep, wake up in the morning and get focused on the next one.”

Butler's Matt Berezo and Shayne Houck kept the Sliders from celebrating as long as possible.

With the bases loaded and two outs in the bottom of the 10th, Chris Vopinek ripped a grounder between third base and shortstop. However, Berezo stabbed the bouncer in shallow left field, jumped in the air and fired a laser to first base to nip Vopinek by half a step. Berezo made a similar, but less dramatic play in the sixth, as well.

“He made two phenomenal plays on us,” said Chalot. “We just kept scratching, kept giving ourselves opportunities until we finally came through.”

“I was just trying to make the play,” Berezo explained. “I knew it was the only shot I had to try to keep us in the game. I was just doing what I'm supposed to do.”

Houck evened the contest at 4-4 with a towering solo home run over the 400-foot mark in center field to lead off the top of the eighth. It was his sixth of the season and he also ripped an RBI single in the third.

Chase Byerly picked up the win for the Sliders. The Slippery Rock closer leads the Prospect League with 10 saves and hurled two innings for the victory Friday.

Byerly hasn't allowed a run in over a month, firing 12 1-3 consecutive innings of shutout ball and dropping his ERA to 0.84.

Kevin Jurkatis also played a key role, pitching four innings in relief of starter Josh Tinnon, who went the first five. The only blemish for Jurkatis came on the homer by Houck.

“Our bullpen has pitched great,” said Chalot. “Everything is kind of clicking right now.”

Slippery Rock finished in the basement of the East Division in the first-half standings with a 10-18 record. However, the Sliders have turned it around as of late and Capasso is happy to be part of the surge.

“Especially after the first half, it's awesome,” Capasso said. “Hopefully, we keep it going.

On the other end of the spectrum, Berezo expects the BlueSox to put an end to Slippery Rock's winning ways over the weekend. Butler has been playing well lately, too. Friday's loss to the Sliders snapped a string of three straight wins for the BlueSox.

The teams will meet Saturday night at Pullman Park, before playing again on Sunday at Jack Critchfield Park.

“We ended our hot streak. We didn't get the win, but I think we're going to be fine,” said Berezo. “We'll bounce back tomorrow and the next day against these guys, I think, and continue it through the week, too.”

Notes: Butler struck out 11 Sliders on the night, including six in five innings by starting pitcher Devon Davis and four in 2 1-3 frames by reliever Wes Rich. ... Butler's Ryan Siegel, a Freeport native, legged out two infield hits, stole two bases, laid down two sacrifice bunts and scored a run. ... Butler's John Crummy tied the game at 3-3 with a two-out double in the fourth. ... Butler commited three errors — along with another costly miscue during a double-play attempt — in the first five innings. ... The game started at 8:25 p.m. after an hour and 20 minute rain delay.

Butler 011 100 010 00 — 4 10 3Slippery Rock 003 010 000 01 — 5 11 0W: Chase Byerly 2IP (0K, 0BB).

L: Brian Thompson 2-3IP (0K, 2BB).

Butler (6-7): Matt Berezo 1B; Brian Lares 1B; Shayne Houck HR, 1B, 2RBI; Chris Rasky 1B, R; Ryan Siegel 2-1B, R; Jon Danielczyk 2-1B, RBI; John Crummy 2B, RBI; Bret Basilone R.

Slippery Rock (9-6): Trent Wooldridge 3-1B, R, RBI; Michael Durham 2B, 1B 2R; Jon Capasso 2-1B 2RBI; Fred Ford RBI; David Leon 1B; Steve Sulcoski 1B; Chris Vopinek 1B, R; James Lundstrom 2B, R.

Today: Slippery Rock at Butler, 6:35

Sunday: Butler at Slippery Rock, 6:05