DACULA, Ga. — Buford softball wasted little time taking control of Tuesday's matchup between the region's top two teams, scoring in every inning on its way to a 19-1 victory over Dacula at the Dacula Softball Complex.
The three-inning, run-rule win lifted the Wolves to 16-1 overall and 7-0 in Region 8-7A. Buford now holds a two-game lead over second-place Dacula with one meeting remaining between the teams.
Junior Taylor Jackson set the tone in the circle, earning her fifth win of the season in her eighth start. Jackson (5-1) allowed one earned run on four hits over three innings, striking out three and walking two. Behind her, the Wolves played error-free defense and supplied plenty of offense, collecting 16 hits and six walks.
Buford jumped ahead with four runs in the first inning. Junior Ansley Kehren drove in the opening run with a single, and sophomore LG Goldin followed with a two-run single. Senior Ella Pierce Hensley finished the inning with a solo home run to left field, her fifth of the season, giving the Wolves a 4-0 advantage.
The offense kept rolling in the second as Buford sent nine runs across the plate. Kehren delivered a two-run double, and Lydia Hamrick, senior Olivia Nagel and senior Janie Goldin each added an RBI single. With the lead at 10-0, senior Brooklyn Atha connected for a three-run homer to left-center field. Her 10th home run of the season stretched the margin to 13-0.
Buford added six more runs in the third. Taylor Sawyer singled home a run, Reese Oskarson drew a bases-loaded walk and Kami Vendola added an RBI single. Hayden Halper followed with a two-run double, and Kinsley Crawford drove in another run on a lineout to make it 19-0.
Dacula put together a string of hits in the bottom of the third to break up the shutout, but Jackson and the Wolves closed out the victory.
Atha finished 2-for-2 with three RBIs, three runs scored, a walk and a stolen base. Kehren went 2-for-3 with a double, three RBIs and two runs scored, while Janie Goldin was 2-for-2 with a walk, an RBI and three runs scored. Hamrick added two hits, an RBI and a run scored, and Sawyer also finished with two hits.
The Wolves continue region play Thursday, Sept. 17, traveling to Suwanee to face Collins Hill. First pitch is set for 6 p.m.
