BUFORD, Ga. — Buford opened Region 8-AAAAAAA play with an emphatic offensive performance Tuesday, hitting five home runs during a 14-2, four-inning victory over Mill Creek.
The Wolves finished with 14 hits, 10 of which went for extra bases, and received contributions throughout the lineup. The victory improved Buford to 4-0 and extended the program's winning streak to 40 consecutive games.
Brooklyn Atha led the charge with a perfect night at the plate. The third baseman went 3-for-3 with a home run, a double, three RBIs, three runs and two stolen bases.
Buford wasted little time establishing control, scoring four runs in the bottom of the first inning. Atha opened the scoring with an RBI single before Ella Pierce Hensley drew a bases-loaded walk. Kami Vendola followed with a two-run double to give the Wolves an early 4-0 advantage.
Mill Creek answered in the top of the second when Ashlin Ilczyszyn sent a solo home run over the center-field fence. Buford responded immediately, as LG Goldin launched a two-run homer to left field in the bottom half of the inning.
The Wolves broke the game open with seven runs on seven hits in the third. Janie Goldin started the scoring with an RBI double before Atha drove a two-run homer to center. Hensley and Taylor Sawyer added two-run home runs to left field, pushing Buford's lead to 13-1.
After Mill Creek scored an unearned run in the top of the fourth, Emma Asmer completed the scoring with a solo home run to left in the bottom half of the inning.
Atha was one of two Wolves to record three hits. Vendola also went 3-for-3, finishing with two doubles, two RBIs and one run.
Sawyer went 1-for-2 with a home run, two RBIs, a run and a walk. Hensley finished 1-for-2 with a home run, two RBIs, two runs and a walk, while LG Goldin went 1-for-2 with a home run, two RBIs, two runs and a walk.
Janie Goldin contributed a double, an RBI, two runs, a walk and a stolen base. Ansley Kehren added a double and scored once, and Lydia Hamrick collected two hits in three at-bats.
Taylor Jackson improved to 2-0 in the circle. The right-hander allowed one hit and one run over three innings while recording four strikeouts and three walks. Kennedy Townsend pitched the fourth, allowing two hits and one unearned run while striking out one.
Ilczyszyn accounted for most of Mill Creek's offense, going 2-for-2 with a home run and two RBIs. Marion White recorded the Hawks' other hit.
Buford will continue its road schedule Thursday against Seckinger.
By the Numbers
14 — Runs scored by Buford
14 — Hits collected by the Wolves
10 — Extra-base hits
5 — Buford home runs
3-for-3 — Performances by Brooklyn Atha and Kami Vendola
3 — RBIs and runs scored by Atha
2 — Doubles by Vendola
5 — Combined strikeouts by Jackson and Townsend
40 — Consecutive victories by Buford
