BUFORD — The Buford baseball team jumped out early and never trailed, holding off Mill Creek for a 7-2 Region 8-6A road victory.

The Wolves (16-2, 11-0 Region 8-6A) scored two runs in the top of the first inning and maintained control throughout the game.

Senior Caleb Griffin got Buford on the board with an RBI double down the left field line, scoring Lio Garcia, who reached on a leadoff walk. Griffin later scored on a throwing error to give the Wolves an early 2-0 lead.

Mill Creek answered in the bottom of the inning with a solo home run from Walker Myhand, but that would be the only hit allowed by Buford senior pitcher Kyle Krause.

Krause (3-1) earned the win, allowing one run on one hit over five innings while striking out five.

Buford added to its lead in the fourth inning when junior Carson Reeves executed a sacrifice bunt to score Javy Ojeda. The Wolves extended the advantage to 4-1 in the fifth after Ryan Johansen led off with a double and later scored on a wild pitch.

Buford broke the game open in the sixth inning, capitalizing on two walks and defensive miscues to push the lead to 6-1.

Reeves moved from left field to the mound in the sixth and pitched two scoreless innings in relief, allowing one hit while striking out two.

The Wolves added an insurance run in the seventh on a two-out RBI single by Ian Chafin.

Mill Creek threatened in the bottom of the seventh with a two-out double, but Reeves induced a groundout to Johansen at third base to secure the win.

Ojeda led Buford offensively, going 2-for-2 with two walks, two runs scored and four stolen bases. Johansen and Griffin each added doubles, while Chafin drove in a run.

Buford showed patience at the plate, drawing eight walks and stealing six bases.

The Wolves will return home to face Mill Creek in the final game of the three-game region series Friday, with first pitch scheduled for 5:55 p.m.