Friday March 29th, 2024 4:11AM

PLAYOFF BASEBALL: Big inning dooms Wolves in Game 3 loss to Ola

By AccessWDUN Staff

McDONOUGH — Buford fell victim to the big inning Thursday in the Wolves’ deciding Game 3 against Ola in the Class 5A quarterfinals.

The Mustangs used a six-run seventh inning to rally for an 8-3 and win the series 2-1. The win knocks the Wolves out of the playoffs.

Buford was looking for a return trip to the state championship series. Instead, Ola took advantage a several Buford mistakes in the big inning.

Buford led 1-0 after the third and Sean Adams took a no-hitter into the fourth. But Ola’s Patrick Holloman broke up the no-hitter with a solo home run in the top of the fourth to tie the game.

Buford answered with a run in the bottom of the fourth for a 2-1 lead, the Mustangs tied it again in the top of the fifth, and the Wolves reclaimed the lead 3-2 when Bryce Morin scored on a passed ball.

But the Mustangs knocked out Adams in the seventh with dropped third strike and back-to-back singles to load the bases with no one out. An Adams wild pitch allowed the tying run to score and Brandon Jolliff took over on the mound for the Wolves.

But Jolliff hit consecutive batters to give Ola a 5-3 lead and the Mustangs got a bunt hit for a RBI. A Buford error allowed two more runs score to push it to an 8-3 advantage.

The Buford offense could not muster another comeback as the Wolves went down in order in the bottom of the seventh.

Riley Stanford had two hits and an RBI and Pat Walker had a hit and and an RBI for Buford. Joseph Salvo and Kaleb Elder each had one hit for the Wolves.

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