MYRTLE BEACH, SC - The Aviators (6-2,2-1) fell to Boyd County in the finale of the Ripken Experience by a score of 5-1.
Lions pitcher Jacob Vanover kept the Aviators guessing at the plate all night, enroute to an 11-strikeout performance.
“Vanover showed why he is a Morehead State commit,” Butler head coach Trent Dues said after the game.
While the towering righty racked up the strikeouts, the Aviators had their chances.
“Austin Flohre had a double and Cayden Borchers had two hits, we just couldn’t get the big hit when we needed it,” said Dues.
Hot at the plate, Borchers (1-0) has also delivered from the mound. The senior lefty has allowed just five hits, struck out 14 and has not surrendered a run in 9.2 innings or relief pitching.
While the finale did not go as Butler had planned, it does not take away from the impressive week that the Aviators had at the beach.
“We had a productive spring trip,” said Dues. “The weather was awesome, and we came out smokin.”
The Aviators will need to continue to build off that momentum as the return to Ohio to face one of several critical stretches of the schedule.
“We have a big stretch coming up as we play a solid Sidney team on Monday/Tuesday and Troy on Monday/Friday,” said Dues.
A big stretch indeed. The Yellow Jackets of Sidney sit high atop the MVL Valley Division at 5-0, 4-0 and Troy sits at 4-4, 3-1 with a start studded, battle tested roster.