Florida Commit Caroline Stanton leads Buford Wolves past Wesleyan 3-2 in battle of nationally ranked Georgia softball powers
Buford Wins Tight Battle Over Wesleyan
Today was a battle between two nationally ranked softball teams in the state of Georgia, as the Buford Wolves met the Wesleyan Wolves.
Buford and Wesleyan are among the top programs in the country for fall high school softball. According to MaxPreps, Buford is ranked second in the nation and Wesleyan is ranked 16th.
Florida commit Caroline Stanton threw a complete game in Buford’s 3-2 win, but not before Wesleyan made a push in the bottom of the seventh.
Rackley’s Early Blast
Talent was on display everywhere, and LSU commit Addie Rackley gave Buford the first run with a towering solo shot to left field in the top of the first.
That ended up being one of the few mistakes on the day for Wesleyan pitcher and Furman commit, Jess Epps.
In the home half of the inning, Florida commit Shayla Bahr led off with a single and stole second. After Ole Miss commit Avery Tucker worked a walk, both runners moved into scoring position on a groundout. Wesleyan looked ready to answer, but South Carolina commit Kadyn Gabrels made a great play at the plate to tag out Bahr on a sac bunt attempt from Siena Myers. Stanton then closed the inning with a strikeout, her first of seven on the day.
Pitchers Take Control
The game stayed competitive and tight. Stanton and Epps both worked through the next couple of innings without allowing much, showing good command while their defenses backed them up.
In the third, Gabrels struck out to start the inning, but Lydia Hamrick reached on a bunt single and advanced on an error. With two outs, Georgia Tech commit Summer Castorri drove Hamrick in with an RBI single to give Buford a 2-0 lead.
Wesleyan answered with traffic in the bottom half. Tucker singled and advanced on a sacrifice bunt, but Stanton recorded another strikeout to keep the shutout intact.
Buford Adds On
Epps continued to battle and held Buford down, recording two strikeouts in the fourth and giving up only one single. Her stuff was sharp, but run support was missing until late.
In the fifth, Janie Goldin singled and advanced on a sac fly from Castorri. After Rackley was intentionally walked, Janie scored on a throwing error during a steal of third, stretching Buford’s lead to 3-0.
Stanton kept dealing in the circle, piling up more strikeouts while Wesleyan struggled to find quality at-bats.
Wesleyan Rallies Late
Wesleyan looked to change things in the sixth. Tucker led off with a bunt single and stole second, but was doubled off when Epps flew out to right. That killed the momentum and sent the game into the seventh with Buford still up 3-0.
Gabrels led off the seventh with a single and Hamrick moved her over on a bunt. Epps responded, painting the inside corner to strike out Goldin before ending the inning.
Epps really did not throw a bad game. Outside of Rackley’s homer, she limited Buford’s damage. She finished with a complete game, allowing three runs, only one earned, on six hits with six strikeouts and two walks.
In the bottom of the seventh, Wesleyan made its push. Chloe Hurd blooped a single to left to get it started. Rhiyan Fairman followed with an RBI double to score Hurd, cutting it to 3-1.
Mixon grounded out to move Fairman to third, and Gifford brought her home with an RBI groundout to make it 3-2.
With two outs, Stanton gave up a single to Alyssa Flood, the Francis Marion University commit, to bring up Bahr. The game suddenly a clear battle, but Stanton got the ground ball she needed to end it. Buford hung on 3-2.
Final Thoughts
This game lived up to expectations. Both teams showed why they are considered among the best in the country. Buford took advantage of its chances, while Wesleyan fought hard until the final out.
Stanton finished with a complete game, giving up two runs with seven strikeouts and only one walk. It was another strong performance for the future Florida Gator, and a reminder of just how much talent was on the field in this matchup.
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