GUYTON — The Buford Wolves varsity softball team traveled to play South Effingham in the third round of the GHSA Class AAAAAA State Playoffs on Tuesday. Buford wins game one 4-2 but drops game two. South Effingham wins 5-3 in 10 innings forcing a game three.

Sophomore Olivia Duncan records the win for the Wolves in the first game against the Mustangs of South Effingham.  Duncan gave up six hits, two runs (unearned) and struck out four in seven innings of work.

South Effingham jumped to a two-run lead but Buford would battle back in the fourth inning when they pulled ahead by two runs.  In the seventh inning, sophomore Chloe Hatcher would give the Wolves extra breathing room when she hit her third home run of the year.

Offensive standouts for the Wolves in game one were Hatcher who was 1-for-2 with a solo home run, an RBI and a run scored; freshman Madison Pickens who was also 1-for-2 had an RBI and a run scored; sophomore Emma Castorri went 1-for-2 with a double and a run scored; and senior Abbi Perkins was 1-for-3 with a double and a run scored.

Buford would win game one 4-2.

In game two, freshman Emma Grace Williams started on the mound for Buford but was relieved by Duncan (13-3) in the sixth inning.  Duncan will record the loss in which she pitched for four innings, gave up two hits and had three runs (unearned).

Buford would battle it out with South Effingham in 10 innings but fell short when the Mustangs put up three runs in their half of the tenth inning.  The Wolves added a run in the bottom of the tenth but that wasn’t enough to get the win.

The Wolves’ offensive standouts in the second game were freshman Mackenzie Pickens who was 3-for-5 with a triple, a double and two runs scored; Castorri was 2-for-5 with a double and two RBIs; and Perkins went 2-for-5 as well with a triple and an RBI.

With the Wolves and Mustangs splitting the doubleheader, they are forced to play a third and deciding game on Wednesday at 3 p.m. at South Effingham High School in Guyton, Ga.

— Staff Reports