The Long County Blue Tide softball team earned its first every victory at the state tournament in Columbus on Wednesday but it did not come easily. They got a measure of revenge when they took down the Pickens Dragons 4-3 in nine innings in their first game.

The Tide entered the tournament in Columbus as the number one overall seed in 4A and matched up with Pickens, who knocked them out of the state playoffs in 2025. Things started off well for the Tide as sophomore catcher MK Crews brought home a run on a double in the bottom of the first.

The Dragons responded in the second inning with Zyla Morgan’s two-run home run to take a 2-1 lead.

That lead did not last long, however, as Sophia Brewster started the third with a double and was moved to third on Yaya Sikes’ bunt. Crews got her second RBI of the game with a sacrifice fly to before Lana Lewis singled to bring home Hollan Clark, who was hit by a pitch.

A throwing error allowed Pickens to tie the game at 3-3 and that score held through seven innings. It forced just the second extra inning game of the year for the Tide.

Brewster was solid in the circle with eight strikeouts, but her most clutch performance came in the top of the ninth inning.

She allowed a hit, but struck out the next two batters to bring the Tide back up to the plate and give them a chance to win.

Jersi Lester started off with a single and eventually stole second to set up the winning run for fellow senior Alyssa Skipper.

Skipper laid down a bunt right between the plate and circle. The throw to first was out of reach, allowing Lester to score from second and give the Tide the 4-3 win.

The Tide move on to play the North Hall Trojans, another team from the same region as the Dragons. The Trojans entered the playoffs as the 20th overall seed, but they knocked off the defending two-time state champions Heritage in the first game on Wednesday.

That game is scheduled to play today at 2:45 p.m.