The Long County Blue Tide baseball team was on a five-game win streak, but now they will enter region play on a three-game losing streak. That streak was capped off with their first home loss of the season on Friday, March 7, a 2-0 setback to Savannah Country Day.

It was a defensive battle for the last six innings of the game, and the first inning was where most of the action at the plate happened.

The Hornets got two on with back-to-back singles, but pitcher Nick Sizemore picked off a runner at second base for the first out. After a walk put two baserunners on, a Hornets double to center field brought in a run.

Sizemore struck out a batter but a ball glanced off a Tide fielder’s glove to bring home one more run. Sizemore got another strikeout to close out the side.

Kenny Pickens and Creighton Rogers both singled to put two runners on in the bottom of the first with one out but a fly out to right and a ground out ended the inning.

Sizemore got two strikeouts in the second inning to bring his total to four on the night. Another two strikeouts and a pickoff at second, from Pickens to his younger brother, freshman second baseman Kolton, ended the inning for the Hornets.

In the fourth, Sizemore got three straight strikeouts to bring his total to nine on the night.

Rogers reached on an error and Anthony Bramwell walked to give the Tide some life with two on and one out.

The Hornets, however, made a big play as Jehmiel Pettis’ hard hit shot up the middle was snagged and resulted in a double play to end the inning.

Dylan Lester was hit by a pitch in the bottom of the fifth and stole second before another runner was on base after Luke Poppell got hit by a pitch.

The next two batters went down for the Tide as they trailed 2-0 going into the sixth.

Kenny Pickens got a strikeout and allowed a hit in the sixth, the first Hornet hit since the first inning. However, Sizemore snagged a ball out of the air and tagged second before turning a double play to end the inning.

Rogers doubled to open the sixth, but he was caught stealing third to end the inning. Pickens got three straight strikeouts in the seventh, bringing the team total to 13 on the night.

Pettis opened the bottom of the inning with a walk and Braedon Chambless followed with a walk. However, they could not take advantage of the baserunners as the next two batters went down to end the game.

With the loss, the Tide fall to 6-4 on the season and will look to bounce back as they open region play on Tuesday, March 11 at Islands.

Region series are three games this year as they play at Islands Tuesday and Friday and host the Sharks Thursday, March 13.