The North Gwinnett High School softball team hosted Buford on Monday evening. The two teams were evenly matched at the end of seven innings and after lightning nearby, the game was called at 2-2. This is the first game resulting in a tie since September 2008 for the Lady Wolves.
Buford (7-1-1) was the first to get on the board as junior Emma Castorri hit her fourth home run of the season in the top of the second to put the Lady Wolves up 1-0.
North Gwinnett (5-2-1) answered back in the bottom of the fourth inning after junior Ella Janish hit a two-run home run driving in senior Mia Mitchell to put the Lady Bulldogs up 2-1.
Sophomore Mackenzie Pickens hit the tying run for the Lady Wolves with her second home run of the season in the top of the seventh inning.
The game would not go into extra innings to break the tie due to the game being called as lightning was in the area. The game ended with both teams with two runs each.
Sophomore Emma Grace Williams went four innings on the mound for Buford. She gave up five hits, two earned runs, struck out two batters and had no walks. Junior Olivia Duncan came into the game to relieve Williams in the fifth inning where she gave up one hit and struck out three.
Offensive standouts for Buford were Castorri (1-for-3, solo HR, RBI and one run scored), Mackenzie Pickens (1-for-3, solo HR, RBI and one run scored) and Taylor Malvin (1-for-3, triple).
Buford will host Region 8-AAAAAA opponent Shiloh on Tuesday, Aug. 31 @ 5:30 p.m. at the Buford Softball Complex.
