Softball: Buford wins battle of top two teams in state

MARIETTA -- Buford rallied from an early deficit and then held off Lassiter 2-1 Wednesday in a matchup between the top two ranked teams in the U.S. and Georgia, according to MaxPreps.<br /> <br /> Buford (16-1) came in ranked No. 1 in both polls while the Lady Trojans (14-1) were ranked No. 2 behind the Lady Wolves.<br /> <br /> The Lady Wolves had a chance to take a quick lead in the top of the first but left two runners stranded in scoring position. Lassiter responded getting a Kelly Sinclair home run in the bottom of the first off Bria Bush for a 1-0 lead.<br /> <br /> Buford would leave another runner stranded at second in the third inning and both pitchers settled down until the sixth.<br /> <br /> Buford would finally get to Lassiter pitcher Brianna Michaud in the sixth. Drew Puckett walked to lead off the sixth and then would score to tie the game at 1-1 on a Lassiter throwing error.<br /> <br /> The Lady Trojans would load the bases with two outs in the bottom of the sixth but Bush was able to get out of the inning on a ground out.<br /> <br /> The Lady Wolves took the lead 2-1 in the top of the seventh on Jordan Deep's lead-off home run.<br /> <br /> Bush set Lassiter down in order in the bottom of the seventh to preserve the win.