BUFORD - After three rounds of playoff baseball, Buford has yet to lose a game as it tries to win its first state title since 1977.

With home wins of 11-8 and 12-1 over Pierce County on Tuesday in the Class AA quarterfinals, the Wolves (27-3), No. 1 seed from Region 6, are now one series win away from the state championship.

They swept Fannin County and defending state champion Calhoun in the first two rounds, and with their sweep over Pierce County, they have now outscored their postseason competition 73-14.

Buford faces the winner of Hart County-Appling County, with a best-of-three series beginning Monday at Buford.

"It feels awesome to be moving on," said Game 1 winning pitcher Josh Heddinger, who was also 3-for-4 with three walks, a homer and four RBIs in the series. "It's unreal."

The Wolves fell behind 3-1 in the fourth inning of the first game, but responded with four runs in the fourth and fifth innings, plus two runs in the sixth. Pierce County had one rally left in the seventh, scoring three runs to pull within the game's final margin. Troy Herterick, who relieved Heddinger with two outs into the seventh, closed the door by getting Jayk Graham to fly out with the bases loaded to earn the save.

Heddinger's two-run homer in the sixth inning, which gave the Wolves an 11-6 lead, ended up being crucial insurance for Buford.

"If that wouldn't have happened, it would have been 9-8 and that would have been too close," said Heddinger, who took Jordan Woodward's hanging curve ball over the left field fence.

Heddinger pitched 6 2/3 innings, allowing eight runs (four earned) on six hits, three walks and four hit batters. He also struck out six.

Sam Clay kept Buford's perfect postseason record intact with five strong innings in a mercy-rule shortened Game 2 that only went six.

"I felt confident going into the game," said Clay, who gave up a run on five hits and four walks while striking out 11. "We haven't been to the final four in a long time, and it's definitely a good feeling to get the win."

Mason Gentry opened the scoring in the second with a towering shot to left-center off starter Will White, clearing the trees and traveling an estimated 415 feet. The Wolves then tacked on three runs in the third, five in the fourth and three in the sixth to complete the sweep.

"We hit the ball well today, but it's not the best we've hit it," said Herterick, who homered in each game and finished with three RBIs. "We did a very good job of getting some hits in clutch situations today"

Now the Wolves will play either Hart County, top seed from Region 8, or Appling County, Region 2's No. 2 seed.

"It's always important to get the sweep, because it's an extra day off," Buford coach Tony Wolfe said. "It keeps our confidence up and saves our pitching staff a whole game."

Wolfe said Jake Burnette will get the start in Game 1 of the next series. Burnette pitched the final inning of Game 2, allowing a hit while striking out two.

Gentry was 2-for-2 with a double, three walks and six runs and Herterick and Heddinger each scored four runs for Buford on the series.