DACULA — LG Goldin doubled and homered, but Buford softball could not overcome three Dacula home runs in a 6-5 loss Thursday, Oct. 1, at the Dacula Softball Complex.
The Wolves twice erased deficits and briefly held the lead in the Region 8-7A contest before Dacula first baseman Karsyn Plaisance’s second home run of the night put the Falcons ahead for good.
Wolves rally to take the lead
Senior Olivia Nagel made her third start of the season for Buford. Dacula took an early lead in the first inning, but Goldin tied the game at 1 with a two-out double in the third.
The Falcons answered with back-to-back home runs in the bottom of the inning to take a 4-1 lead. Senior Kennedy Townsend relieved Nagel in the circle.
Buford rallied with three runs in the fourth. Juniors Lydia Hamrick and Kami Vendola contributed hits, junior Taylor Sawyer walked and senior Janie Goldin added a bunt single. A two-base throwing error on Goldin’s bunt helped the Wolves tie the game at 4.
LG Goldin then opened the fifth with a solo home run to left-center field, her seventh of the season, giving Buford a 5-4 lead.
Plaisance responded with a two-run homer to left in the bottom of the fifth to put Dacula ahead 6-5.
Seventh-inning threat falls short
The Wolves threatened again in the seventh. Junior Ansley Kehren led off with a double to left-center, and Dacula intentionally walked LG Goldin.
Senior Ella Pierce Hensley’s sacrifice bunt moved the runners to second and third with one out, but a strikeout and a flyout ended the game.
LG Goldin finished 2-for-3 with a double, a home run, a walk, two RBIs and a run scored. Hamrick went 2-for-3 with a run scored and a stolen base.
Senior Brooklyn Atha was 2-for-4 with a run scored and two stolen bases, while Janie Goldin also went 2-for-4.
Townsend took the loss, falling to 5-1. She allowed four hits and two earned runs in four innings of relief.
