DAILY LEADER / AMY RHOADS / Loyd Star’s first baseman Bradyn Brister (25) looks over to the field judge for the out call as Taylorsville’s runner Chandler Cline (11) hustles to first base.

The Loyd Star Hornets suffered a tough, heartbreaking 2-1 loss to the Taylorsville Tartars Tuesday night in Game One of the Class 2A South State Baseball Championship at Smith Field.

“We had our chances to win the game, but we could not get the hits we needed when we had runners in scoring position,” said Loyd Star coach Jared Britt. “We had a couple of base running miscues that you should let happen against a good team like Taylorsville. Overall, we just beat ourselves tonight. Now, we must regroup quickly and get ready for another tough task Thursday with high of bringing the series back to Loyd Star Saturday.”

The Hornets (21-7) will travel to Taylorsville to take on the Tartars Thursday for Game Two of the best-of-three series. The contest will begin at 7 p.m. If a Game Three is necessary, the series will return to Loyd Star for a 5 p.m. start.

Taylorsville 2, Loyd Star 1 

Loyd Star and Taylorville’s baseball fans gathered at Smith Field Tuesday night to watch and cheer on their baseball teams in a huge contest in Game One of the South State Championship.

DAILY LEADER / AMY RHOADS / Loyd Star’s senior pitcher, Caleb Yarborough, prepares to deliver his pitch against Taylorsville Tuesday night at Smith Field.

In the bottom of the first inning, the Hornets came out and quickly grabbed an early 1-0 lead.

The Tartars battled back to tie the contest at 1-all in the top of the fourth inning on a solo home run by Joseph Gately.

After fighting through a scoreless fifth inning, Taylorsville managed to push across the potential winning run in the top of the sixth inning to take a 2-1 lead.

In the bottom of the sixth and seventh innings, the Hornets threatened to tie the game or take over the lead to win the game but failed to score the runner from third base as Taylorsville held on for the win.

Ashton White was the winning pitcher for the Tartars with five strikeouts and two walks. Joseph Gately earned the save for Taylorsville in the seventh inning with one strikeout and two walks.

Loyd Star’s senior pitcher, Caleb Yarborough (9-1), suffered his first setback of the season as he went the distance striking out 10 batters, while giving up only two walks.

Gately was the top hitter for Taylorsville on offensive with a home run and a single. White provided a single.

Konner Allen and Cade Hodges powered the Hornets attack with a double each. Levi Redd and Bradyn Brister contributed a single each.