BUFORD, Ga. — Taylor Jackson went the distance in the circle, and No. 2 Buford scored three times in the third inning to defeat No. 10 Creekview 4-2 in a nationally ranked matchup Saturday.

The meeting brought together the reigning state champions from two classifications, with the Wolves improving to 20-2 behind Jackson's strongest outing of the season. The right-hander allowed four hits and two earned runs, struck out four and walked four while facing 27 batters. She threw 109 pitches, including 57 strikes, to move to 7-2.

Buford gave Jackson an early lead after Janie Goldin opened the bottom of the first with a walk. Goldin later scored on Ansley Kehren's RBI single, putting the Wolves in front 1-0.

That advantage grew in the third after Mackenzie Fritsch drew a leadoff walk. Janie Goldin followed with a line-drive triple to left, bringing Fritsch home for the first run of the inning. Brooklyn Atha then executed a squeeze bunt that scored Goldin before L.G. Goldin drove a solo home run to center field.

The homer was L.G. Goldin's sixth of the season and her fifth over a five-game stretch, giving Buford a 4-0 cushion.

Creekview pitcher Jaidyn Griffeth answered with a solo home run in the fourth and drove in another run in the sixth, but the Grizzlies never pulled closer than two. Jackson kept Creekview scoreless in the seventh to finish the complete-game victory.

Buford collected seven hits and did not commit an error. Janie Goldin reached safely in all three of her plate appearances, going 2-for-2 with a triple, a walk, two runs and an RBI. Kehren went 2-for-3 with an RBI, while L.G. Goldin finished 2-for-3 with the home run and an RBI. Taylor Sawyer supplied the Wolves' other hit.

Fritsch, Janie Goldin and Kehren each stole a base. Sawyer handled a team-high nine defensive chances as Buford backed Jackson with a clean performance in the field.

The Wolves return home Wednesday to face Cherokee Bluff.