Buford hits four home runs in rout of Walnut Grove

The Buford High School softball players hit four home runs in the team’s 12-2 rout of Walnut Grove on Monday, August 14 at the Buford Softball Complex.

Walnut Grove scored two runs in the first inning making the score 2-0. Buford (4-0) got on the board with one run scored in the second inning.

Buford’s bats came alive in the third inning as they added on three hits. Senior Madison Pickens hit a double to lead off the third inning for the Wolves. She would score one batter later when senior Mackenzie Pickens hit a two-run home run, her fourth home run of the season. Fellow senior Adriana Martinez was up next and she hit her first of two home runs for the game putting Buford up 4-2.

The Wolves added four hits in the fourth inning and another four hits in the fifth inning. Martinez would get her second home run in the fourth inning. Madison Pickens hit a three-run walk-off home run to end the game in the bottom of the fifth inning due to the run rule. The Wolves defeated the Warriors 12-2.

Senior Emma Grace Williams (2-0) would pitch a complete game (five innings) for Buford. She gave up three hits, two earned runs, struck out six and walked one.

Offensive standouts for Buford were Madison Pickens (2-for-3, three-run home run, double, four RBIs, two runs scored, one steal), Martinez (2-for-3, two home runs, three RBIs, two runs scored), Mackenzie Pickens (2-for-3, two-run home run, three RBIs, two runs scored) and Tavye Borders (2-for-2, two runs scored, three stolen bases).

Buford will host the 2022 Class AAAAAA state runner-up Apalachee on Wednesday, August 16 at 6 p.m. at the Buford Softball Complex.

Featured photo: Buford senior Adriana Martinez hit two home runs against Walnut Grove on Monday, August 15, 2023. Photo courtesy of the Buford softball team.