Wolves sweep Friday before splitting Saturday; Cook throws shutout, Sawyer drives in four in finale

COLUMBUS, Ga. — Buford softball opened the Harris County Invitational with a pair of victories Friday, Sept. 11, defeating Villa Rica 6-0 before topping Houston County 7-3 at the South Commons Softball Complex.

The two wins kept the Wolves unbeaten heading into Saturday’s tournament schedule.

Buford 6, Villa Rica 0

Junior Norah Cook delivered a complete-game shutout in Buford’s tournament opener, limiting Villa Rica to two hits over six innings.

Cook struck out three and walked one to improve to 2-0.

Buford took the lead in the first inning when sophomore LG Goldin singled home a run.

The Wolves added to their advantage in the fifth behind a pair of home runs. Senior Brooklyn Atha hit a solo homer, her eighth of the season, before senior Ella Pierce Hensley added a two-run shot for her fourth home run of the year.

LG Goldin finished 2-for-3 with two RBIs, a run scored and a stolen base. Pierce Hensley drove in two runs, while senior Janie Goldin scored twice and stole two bases.

Buford finished with five stolen bases.

Buford 7, Houston County 3

Buford carried its momentum into Friday’s second game, building an early six-run lead against Houston County.

Junior Ansley Kehren doubled home a run in the first inning before Pierce Hensley singled in two more to give the Wolves a 3-0 advantage.

Buford scored three additional runs in the second. Janie Goldin drove in a run with a single before Atha launched a two-run home run to center field, her ninth homer of the season, to extend the lead to 6-0.

Kehren led the offense, going 3-for-3 with a double, an RBI and two runs scored.

Janie Goldin finished 2-for-2 with an RBI, two runs and two stolen bases. Pierce Hensley and Atha each drove in two runs.

Senior Kennedy Townsend earned the victory in relief to improve to 5-0. She allowed three runs, one earned, on four hits over three innings without issuing a walk.

Olivia Nagel started in the circle and pitched two scoreless innings, allowing two hits with one strikeout and one walk.

Buford collected 10 hits, stole four bases and turned two double plays in the victory.

The Friday sweep gave the Wolves two wins to open their appearance at the Harris County Invitational in Columbus.