Above Photo: Freshman Mackenzie Pickens would hit a home run against North Forsyth on Monday night. Photo – Alicia Couch Payne
BUFORD — The Buford Wolves hosted the 6AAAAAAA North Forsyth Raiders on Monday evening at the Buford Softball Complex. Buford would pull off a seventh-inning comeback to beat North Forsyth 5-4 on Buford’s Senior Night.
Buford and North Forsyth were tied up 2-2 until the top of the sixth inning when the Raiders scored two runs. Sophomore Emma Castorri was the first up to bat in the bottom of the seventh inning. Castorri would make it to first on an error by North Forsyth’s Ashleigh Grace’s throwing error. Senior Alicia Ross got on first base with a single sending Castorri to second. Junior Taylor Malvin singled allowing Castorri to get to third but then another Raider error sent Castorri on to score for Buford. With no outs and Ross on third, freshman Mackenzie Pickens singled sending Ross home to add another run for the Wolves. Abbie Perkins flied out to right field. Senior Emmy Hall hit a single which set Malvin up at third. Sophomore Chloe Hatcher smacked a line drive into the right field corner allowing Malvin to score the game-winning run.
Senior Riley Reese would start out pitching for Buford but was relieved by sophomore Olivia Duncan (2-1) who records the win. Duncan pitched 3.3 innings in which she gave up three hits, two unearned runs, and struck out eight Raiders.
Mackenzie Pickens led the offense for Buford. She was 3-for-4 which included a first-inning solo home run. Pickens would earn three RBIs and scored two runs. Hatcher went 1-for-4 earning an RBI and had the game-winning hit. Ross was 2-for-3 on the night and she scored a run.
Buford improves to an overall record of 8-2 and remains 4-0 in Region 8AAAAAA.
Up next for Buford is a region game at Shiloh on Tuesday, September 1 at 5:00 p.m.
