LUDOWICI — Long County lost to Appling County 8-13 on Tuesday in a 2-AA Region matchup, but bounced back on Wednesday to beat the Ware Magnet Eagles 15-4, ending a four game losing streak.

Tuesday’s game pitted the undefeated Pirates against the Blue Tide, who had a 1-6 record, and who had lost three games in a row. Shoulda been a blow-out, right? Not on this night.

The Pirates jumped out to a 6-0 lead at the end of two innings, and it looked like the game would be called early. But in the bottom of the third, hope began to shine through for the Blue Tide.

After Tyler Chambless got a hit, outfielder Stevie Harrison crushed a ball over the left-centerfield wall to narrow the score to 6-2.

In the top of the fourth, Appling scored two runs to push their lead back to six.

In the sixth, the Blue Tide batters got hot. Harrison added another single, as did Jake Durham, and Kaleb Gaitten. Bryan Wingate and Shane White added doubles. By the time the inning was over the Long players had scored six runs to tie 8-8.

But there are reasons the Red and Black Pirates are the number one 2-AA team in the state; talent and heart. In the top of the seventh, the team scored five runs to win the game, 13-8.

Wingate got the loss, despite a solid game, through six innings. Winning pitcher for the Pirates was Josh Leggett.

Appling County put up 15 hits and committed 1 error. The Blue Tide put up 9 hits and committed 2 errors.

For the night, the leading batters for the Tide were Wingate and Harrison who both were 2-4.

Despite the loss, Tide head coach Brian Thomas was pleased with his team’s performance.

"In the last five days we played two of the best teams in the state, and we showed we can play with anybody. We need to take what we did good tonight, and apply it tomorrow when we play Ware Magnet," Thomas said.

And on Wednesday, the Ludowici players did apply those lessons in Manor, grounding the Eagles 15-4.

With the win, the Blue Tide improved their overall record to 2-7, and their 2-AA Region mark is now 1-2.

Tonight, Long County is back home, as they take on 2-AA nemesis Jeff Davis High School. The Yellow Jackets bring a 4-1 overall record and a 2-0 region mark.

Tomorrow, the Tide travel o Hinesville to take on the winless Bradwell Institute Tigers. That contest starts at 1 p.m.