TIPP CITY - The Aviators scored early and often in what looked to be a blowout as Butler (16-5, 13-1) took an 11-0 lead into the bottom of the sixth. The Red Devils made it interesting late, but the Aviators prevailed in a huge 13-7 win over rival Tippecanoe.
Butler starter Hunter Richardson (5-0) earned the win for Butler, working 5 1/3 innings with seven strikeouts and allowed just two hits. Alex Ables, Koby Dues and Landon Case closed it out allowing just three hits and punching out four.
Freshman Jackson Schilling had a day at the plate for Butler, going 3-for-4 with 3 RBI, while Austin Flohre was 2-for-3 with an acrobatic leap at the plate, contorting over Tipp catcher Brady Liskey and tapping home plate for a late run.
Mason Reckner was 2-for-4 with an RBI and ended up on second three times in this game, two by way of back-to-back bunts.
Paxton Dwenger, Hunter Richardson, Zak Strobel and Brody Miller each added RBI's for Butler.
The two rivals will wrap-up the series Friday Night Lights style at Butler, with first pitch slated for 6:30 pm.