LOCUST GROVE -- Buford advanced to the Class AAAA semifinals with a sweep of Locust Grove, 10-0 and 8-5, Tuesday on the road.
The Wolves (30-2) will await the series winner between cartersville and Wayne County, who were rained out of the start of their best-of-three series on Tuesday. That series will on Wednesday in Jesup.
Buford got another dominating performance from senior left-hander Jake Higginbotham, who struck out 11 and scattered three hits in taking the win in Game 1. Kevin Coulter pitched the final two innings fanning two without giving up a hit.
Ian Jenkins got things going quickly for the Wolves with a three-run home run to highlight a five-run first inning. Brandon Marsh had four hits and Nick Wilhite two hits for Buford in the first game.
“Jake was outstanding and we gave him some early runs so that was good to see,” Buford coach Tony Wolfe said.
In Game 2, Connor Bennett started and was staked to an early 2-0 lead after a two-run home run from Joey Bart in the first inning. It stayed that way until the fourth.
The Yellow Jackets finally found some offense exploding for five runs in the top of the fourth inning for a 5-2 lead. It marked the first time in the 2015 playoffs that Buford had fallen behind.
“Connor wasn’t as sharp as he has been and walked some guys and that got him in trouble,” Wolfe said. “
Bennett lasted just 5 1/3 innings giving up seven hits while walking five and striking out 11 for Buford to get the win. Justin Glover relieved Bennett and went the final 1 2/3 without yielding a hit and fanning three to earn the save.
Glover’s work allowed the Wolves to get back in the game. Buford trimmed the lead to 5-4 with a pair of runs in the bottom of the fourth. The Wolves retook the lead for good in the fifth with four runs, including a RBI single by Bart for his third RBI of the game.
Nick Wilhite and Austin Wilhite each had two hits and Glover had two hits and two RBI for Buford.
STATE BASEBALL QUARTERFINALS:
Class AAAAA
Gainesville 1, South Effingham 1
Game 1: Gainesville 5, South Effingham 2
Game 2: South Effingham 10, Gainesville 3
Game 3: 4 p.m. Tuesday at Ivey-Watson Field
Class AAAA
Buford 2, Locust Grove 0
Game 1: Buford 10, Locust Grove 0
Game 2: Buford 8, Locust Grove 5
Whitewater 2, North Hall 0
Game 1: Whitewater 8, North Hall 2
Game 2: Whitewater 10, North Hall 1
Class AAA
Jefferson 2, Callaway 0
Game 1: Jefferson 5, Callaway 3
Game 2: Jefferson 3, Callaway 0
Westminster 2, Jackson County 0
Game 1: Westminster 2, Jackson County 0
Game 2: Westminster 11, Jackson County 0
Class AA
Rabun County 1, Lovett 1
Game 1: Lovett 6, Rabun County 1
Game 2: Rabun County 2, Lovett 1
STATE BASEBALL SEMIFINALS:
(As of Tuesday)
Class AAAA
Buford vs. Wayne County/Cartersville
Class AAA
Jefferson at Westminster
