The Prospect League's best record will come down to the final day of the regular season.

Evan Kennedy's two-run double in the top of the ninth inning lifted the Lafayette Aviators to a 2-1 victory over the Butler BlueSox at Kelly Automotive Park Friday night.

The Sox, champions of the East Division, and the Aviators, champions of the West, will carry identical 36-23 records into Saturday's finale.

Should the two teams meet in the Prospect League championship series later this month, the winner of Saturday's game would get home field advantage.

“It's very important to the guys,” said Butler manager Cody Herald of the final game, “but we've already accomplished a lot. Our guys aren't down.”

Kennedy's hit came off of Wyatt Daugherty, Butler's second reliever of the game following Connor Coward in the eighth.

Butler had the tying and winning run in scoring position in the bottom of the ninth, but Lafayette reliever Cam Boyd got Tanner Murphy to ground out to end the game.

Two southpaws — Butler's Jack Herzing and Lafayette's Logan Beaman — started the game on the mound and were both masterful.

Herzing pitched seven shutout innings, striking out nine and walking one while allowing just two hits. This is his second season as a member of the BlueSox.

“He's pitching with a lot more confidence this year,” said Herald. “He's normally a reliever for us and has that closer mentality. I'd say he is the fiercest competitor on the team.”

Beaman pitched five scoreless innings before being relieved by Jahborus Smith in the sixth. The hard-luck reliever gave up a run when Murphy struck out, but reached base on a dropped third strike. Aviator catcher Ryan Knernschield tried to make up for his miscue by throwing on to first, but his toss sailed toward Butler's bullpen. Murphy raced to third, where another throw got away from Lafayette, allowing Murphy to score.

Coward made Butler's 1-0 lead stand up by setting the Aviators down in order in the eighth, all via strikeout.

Lafayette 000 000 002 — 2 4 2

Butler 000 001 000 — 1 7 0

W: Jahborus Smith 3 IP (5K, 2BB). L: Wyatt Daugherty 1 IP (2K, 1BB).

Lafayette (36-23): Cory Heffron R, Doug Parks 1B, Logan Beaman 1B R, Evan Kennedy 2B 2RBI, Ryan Knernschield 1B

Butler (36-23): Stefan Mrkonja 2-1B, Brady Gulakowski 1B, Tanner Murphy R, Rey Gonzalez 1B, Pavin Parks 1B 2B, Ben Carew 1B

Saturday: Lafayette at Butler