COLUMBUS — Despite blasting six home runs and totaling 22 hits, the Buford fastpitch softball team saw its 13-game playoff winning streak end Thursday in Columbus.
Northgate slugged to an 18-15 win over the No. 1-ranked Wolves (27-4), sending the reigning state champions into the loser’s bracket. Buford takes on Lambert in its first elimination game at 1:15 p.m. Friday. With a win there, it faces the Brookwood-North Paulding winner at 5:45 p.m. Friday.
Northgate built an 18-9 lead going into the bottom of the seventh inning — on 13 hits and 14 walks by Wolves pitching. Buford scored six runs in the seventh to make it interesting, thanks in part to Mackenzie Fritsch, who had a two-out, two-run home run in the inning…