Richardson Strikes Out 10, Aviators Beat Ross 5-2

OXFORD — This time of year, the number of teams playing shrinks. The crowds grow. The pressure ratchets up. And if you want to keep playing, somebody has to take the ball and put a team on their back.

On Tuesday afternoon, that somebody was Hunter Richardson.

The senior southpaw went the distance for Butler, striking out 10 and scattering four hits in a 5–2 regional semifinal win over Ross — a performance that ended the Rams’ Cinderella run and put the Aviators on the doorstep of the state final four.

“Hunter got stronger I think as the game went on,” said head coach Trent Dues. “He just commanded the game on the mound.”

Richardson didn’t waste time — and neither did the Aviators.

He reached base in the first and later came around to score on Jackson Schilling’s RBI single to give Butler an early 1–0 lead.

In the second, they broke it open.

Tate Richardson and Aidan White set the table with back-to-back singles. Paxton Dwenger followed with a sharp base hit to load the bags. Hunter Richardson ripped an RBI double. Koby Dues followed with a two-run double to the gap. Then a throwing error brought home another run — a four-run inning that made it 5–0.

“I like how we came out swinging the bat early to give him a little cushion,” said Dues. “We played some solid defense behind him today.”

It looked like a runaway. But to their credit, Ross pushed back with two in the third to trim the lead to 5–2.

Still, Butler never blinked.

Richardson dialed in — mixing speeds, working corners, pitching to contact — and shutting the door when it mattered.

And it mattered, because while the Aviators continued hitting balls hard, they just weren’t finding grass. Line drives kept turning into outs.

“I would like to see us play a little more add on,” Dues admitted. “But five was enough.”

Butler’s defense backed him with a spotless performance. Dues was smooth at third. Stratman and Dwenger were sharp up the middle.

The Aviators finished with 11 hits — two each from Hunter Richardson, Dwenger, and White. Dues led the way with two RBIs. Stratman, Schilling, and Mason Reckner each chipped in a hit.

Then came the seventh.

With the game — and Ross’ season — hanging in the balance, Richardson stared down the top of the order and mowed them down in order: strikeout looking, strikeout swinging, strikeout looking.

Side retired. Game over. Ticket punched to the regional final.

“We need to regroup and bring it on Thursday,” Dues said.

That they will. Now 28–3, Butler advances to face Hamilton Badin (24–6) — fresh off a 12–2 run-rule win over Monroe — in Thursday’s regional final at Miami University. The Rams, last year’s D-II runner-up, are no strangers to the stage and are chasing a return trip to Akron.

But on Tuesday, the moment belonged to Richardson and the Aviators. Composed early, electric late — and unshakable when it mattered most.