A huge seven-run sixth inning seals Buford’s 11-5 win over Region 8-7A opponent Mountain View on Wednesday, Mar. 13 at Mountain View.
Going into the sixth inning, Buford and Mountain View were separated by only one run with the Wolves just edging out the Bears 4-3. Buford scored seven runs off of six walks and two base hits to give Buford an 11-5 lead over Mountain View.
Buford sophomore Ayden Lockett took over for junior Braden Burton in the fifth inning. After two runs scored already, he got into additional trouble in the sixth inning with the bases loaded but managed to get out of it to turn around and put the Mountain View batters away 1-2-3 in the seventh inning.
The game got off to a rocky start for Burton on the mound when he gave up a lead-off home run in the bottom of the first inning. The Bears scored two more runs on the Wolves in the first inning to give them a 3-0 lead.
Mountain View retained the lead until the third inning when Buford would get four runs. With two outs in the inning, senior Ethan Murray was walked loading the bases. Sophomore Cameron Wood hit a two-RBI single up the middle cutting Mountain View’s lead to 3-2. The Wolves scored two more runs in the inning to take the lead 4-3 over the Bears.
Burton (1-0) recorded the win by pitching 4.1 innings, giving up five hits, three runs (one earned), six strikeouts, and two walks.
Offensive standouts for the Wolves were Lockett (1-for-2, two RBIs, one run scored, two walks, one stolen base), Wood (1-for-4, two RBIs, one run scored), Murray (1-for-2, two runs scored, two walks, one stolen base), and senior Blake Russell (1-for-2, one run scored, two walks).
Buford’s overall season record improved to 8-4 and 2-0 in Region 8-7A.
The Wolves will once again play the Bears on Friday, Mar. 15 at Gerald McQuaig field. The game starts at 5:55 p.m.
