A huge offensive burst in the fifth inning helps the Buford varsity baseball team defeat Loganville 8-3 on Wednesday, Mar. 6 at Gerald McQuaig Field.
The game was tied at 1-1 going into the bottom of the fifth inning but Buford would soon break that tie when their bats started heating up. The Wolves would score seven runs thanks in part to doubles from junior Cannon Goldin, senior Blake Russell and sophomore Cam Wood. Three fielding errors by the Red Devils also helped Buford in that inning.
Senior Nate Taylor started on the mound for the Wolves and he delivered three innings where he put away batters quickly. Buford got on the board first in the third inning when Goldin hit a two-out line drive single. In the top of the fourth inning, a bad throw allowed a Loganville runner to get into scoring position and one batter and a sac fly later, the Red Devils scored their first run of the game.
In the top of the fifth inning, Taylor was replaced on the mound by sophomore Ayden Lockett. Taylor had a solid performance against the Red Devils where he struck out 10 batters and only allowed one hit and no walks.
After the Wolves scored seven runs in the bottom of the fifth inning, the Red Devils scored a run in the sixth inning and then in the seventh inning, they would get an unearned run to make the final score 8-3.
Lockett (1-0) is the winning pitcher for Buford. He pitched two and two-thirds innings where he gave up four hits, two runs (one earned) and a walk while striking out four.
Offensive standouts for the Wolves were Goldin (3-for-4, double, two RBIs, one run scored, one stolen base), Wood (2-for-3, double, RBI, two runs score, one stolen base), senior Madden Young (2-for-4, one RBI, one run scored, one stolen base) and Russell (1-for-3, double, two RBIs, one run scored).
Buford’s overall season record improved to 5-4.
The Wolves travel to play Parkview on Thursday, Mar. 7 at 5:55 p.m.
