It took a bit longer than Chase Rowe was hoping for, but the Slippery Rock Sliders manager will take the win.

The Sliders let a 2-0 lead slip away to the Butler BlueSox Tuesday night, giving up a pair of runs in the bottom of the eighth inning.

But in the top of the 12th, Matt Howard's leadoff single was followed by a run-scoring double by Derek Carr that gave the Sliders a 3-2 Prospect League victory at Pullman Park.

Slippery Rock (13-15) had lost five of its previous seven games.

"We've lost a lot of close games lately," said Rowe. "We just played (11 games in 10 days) and our guys were a bit tired."

So the Sliders were the last team that wanted to play extra innings, but Howard's leadoff hit in the 12th pointed the way to victory.

His fly ball dropped in for a single. As Howard made a wide turn at first base, he slipped on his way back to the bag, a good 15 feet from the base.

The throw to first base from the outfield went into Butler's dugout, allowing Howard to advance to third base.

Carr then provided the game-winning RBI, but there was still some work to be done in the bottom of the inning.

Before Brad Duffy took the mound for the Sliders in the 11th, Rowe had used starter John Thomas (seven innings) and reliever Mike Devine (two).

With the rest of the staff full of weary arms, Duffy, who had given up five earned runs in six innings before Tuesday, was called upon to get the last three outs in the 12th.

He did so, allowing just a two-out walk to Sean Gusrang. Duffy finished with four strikeouts and two walks while picking up his first win for Slippery Rock.

"I don't think he was thinking too much out there, just pitching," Rowe said of Duffy. "It's just a matter of getting his confidence back."

Butler reliever Sean Holliday took the loss, pitching one inning, fanning one and walking a pair.

Butler's two runs both came in the bottom of the eighth inning off Devine.

Zach Noonan's single, followed by a throwing error, landed the No. 2 hitter at third base.

Brian Youchak then doubled to score one run before Gusrang also doubled, scoring Youchak to tie the game.

It was Devine's first blown save this season.

The BlueSox left 13 runners on base, including leaving the bases loaded in the fifth and ninth.

"We've been doing a good job this season of hitting with runners in scoring position, moving runners over and playing small ball," said Butler manager Jason Wuerfel. "We had chances to score three or four more runs tonight, but it didn't happen.

"But give credit to Slippery Rock, their starting pitcher made good pitches when he was in trouble."

That would be southpaw John Thomas, who struck out eight, walked three and gave up just a bunt single to Jacke Healey in the fifth inning.

Butler starter Tom Kahl wasn't bad himself, striking out eight, walking none and surrendering one earned run on eight hits in seven innings.

"We feel any time Tom takes the mound, we have a good chance of winning the game," said Wuerfel. "We just didn't score enough runs for him tonight."

Seneca Valley grad and Point Park pitcher Derek Peluso worked the eighth and ninth innings for Butler (14-14), striking out two, walking one and giving up an unearned run.

Slippery Rock 000 001 010 001 — 3 13 2Butler 000 000 020 000 — 2 5 3W: Brad Duffy (2 IP) 4 K, 2 BB.

L: Sean Holliday (1 IP) 1 K, 2 BB.

Slippery Rock (13-15): Derek Carr 1B 2B RBI, Nick Spisak 2B 2R, Derek Dirucia 1B 2B RBI, Mike Devine 1B, Jake Petkac 2-1B, Kenny Stoneback 1B, Billy Messer 1B 2B, Matt Howard 1B R

Butler (14-14): Zach Noonan 2-1B R, Brian Youchak 2B R RBI, Sean Gusrang 2B RBI, Jacke Healey 1B

Today: DuBois County (Ind.) at Butler; Chillicothe (Ohio) at Slippery Rock