Sophomore Ella Pierce Hensley hit her first-ever varsity career home run in Buford’s 9-2 win over River Ridge on Thursday, August 8 in the Lady Wolves’ 2024 season opener.
Buford scored two runs in the first inning off of being hit by a pitch, a wild pitch, a stolen base and a couple of ground outs. River Ridge answered back with two runs of their own to tie the game.
Addie Rackley broke the tie in the top of the fourth inning as she crossed home plate to make the score 3-2 in favor of Buford. The Lady Wolves added two more runs in the fifth inning and one run in the sixth inning when Hensley hit her first-ever varsity home run.
In the top of the seventh inning, Rackley hit a home run to give Buford a 7-2 advantage. The Lady Wolves weren’t quite done with River Ridge and added two additional runs to make the final score 9-2.
Despite a rocky start, junior Caroline Stanton (1-0) had a solid performance on the mound for Buford. Stanton pitched seven innings where she gave up two hits, and two earned runs, struck out eight and walked two.
Offensive standouts for the Lady Wolves were Izzy Rettiger (2-for-4, a walk, one run scored, four stolen bases), Hensley (2-for-2, solo home run, one RBI, one run scored), Summer Castorri (1-for-4, two RBIs, one run scored) and Rackley (1-for-3, solo home run, one RBI, two runs scored).
Buford will once again be on the road for their next game which will be at Walnut Grove on Tuesday, August 13 at 6:30 p.m.
