Loading the bases with no outs is great as long as you take advantage of the opportunity.

Butler did on Wednesday while Slippery Rock failed to do so, with both sequences contributing to the former's 8-2 win at Pullman Park.

After scoring three runs with the bases loaded in the bottom of the seventh frame to take a 5-1 lead, the BlueSox found themselves on the other end of the barrel in the next half inning.

The Sliders had already scored one run to cut their deficit to 5-2, with Storm Wilson singling home Tom Crimi after a leadoff triple. Butler starter Adam Aldred walked Cooper Mickelson, ending the pitcher's day. Reliever Walt Hajduk entered the game and promptly walked Matt Calhoun to load the bases.

Hajduk redeemed himself, however, getting Parker Osborne to hit a sharp liner to third baseman Matt Peters, who snagged the ball just above the turf, then stepped on the base to double off Wilson.

Still, the Sliders had runners on first and second with two outs, but Reid Noah came on to officially shut the door on the rally by inducing Max McDowell to ground out.

“That was absolutely huge,” said Butler manager Anthony Rebyanski. “At that point, we were up by just three runs and they (Sliders) could have tied things up. I think it kind of took the wind out of their sails.”

The missed opportunity, though frustrating, was not new for the Sliders (22-28).

“Our biggest issue has been leaving too many guys on base,” said Sliders' manager Brett Neffendorf. “I thought we had the right approach tonight, but you have to credit Butler.”

The BlueSox (29-21) pulled away late by scoring three runs in the bottom of the eighth inning, but it was their effort at the plate in the seventh that paved the road to victory.

By that point, Butler had worked its way into Slippery Rock's bullpen. Cole Lentz, the eventual losing pitcher, hit Alex Jurich with a pitch to start the frame. Josh Forbes and Cody Herald hit back-to-back singles, the second of which scored Jurich for a 2-1 lead.

Dylan Wolsonovich put down what was supposed to be a sacrifice bunt, but reached on an infield single to load the bases and Ryan Fitzgerald walked to bring in another run.

Ryan Furtney took the mound and, after a forceout at home, allowed an RBI-single to Pat McCarthy and a run-scoring groundout off the bat of Tyler Detmer and Butler's lead had swelled to 5-1.

Herald, a Butler High product who batted ninth Wednesday, drove in his team's first run with a single in the fifth. He ended the game with two singles and two RBI.

“He's been back for almost two weeks now after taking a foul ball off his face earlier this season,” said Rebyanski. “He's been a great catalyst at the bottom of the order for us and is a very important asset to our team.”

Aldred earned the win after working 7-plus innings, striking out five and walking three.

Matt Klena started for Slippery Rock and worked into the sixth inning. He was charged with just one earned run on seven hits.

“He did a great job,” said Neffendorf. “This was a special game for him. He's pitched here before for Penn State-(Greater) Allegheny.”

Slippery Rock 000 001 010 — 2 8 1

Butler 000 010 43x — 8 13 0

W: Adam Aldred 7+ IP (5K, 3BB). L: Matt Klena 5+ IP (2K, 1BB).

Slippery Rock (22-28): Storm Wilson 1B RBI, Cooper Mickelson 2-1B R, Matt Calhoun 1B 2B, Parker Osborne 1B RBI, Max McDowell 1B, Tom Crimi 3B R

Butler (29-21): Dylan Wolsonovich 3-1B 2R, Ryan Fitzgerald 1B 2R RBI, Matt Peters 2-1B 2B RBI, Pat McCarthy 1B 2 RBI, Tyler Detmer 1B 2 RBI, Taylor Schmidt R, Alex Jurich R, Josh Forbes 1B R, Cody Herald 2-1B 2 RBI, G.J. Senchak R

Today: Richmond at Butler; Slippery Rock at Chillicothe