Poplarville relied on Dandy Dozen ace Zac Houston to end a three game losing streak.

On the mound, Houston picked up his third win of the year against no losses and he also smacked a three run home run to pace the Hornets to a 5-2 win over Stone County Tuesday.

Austin Smith had two hits in the winning effort, including a double and Chandler Ray added a hit as well.

Houston was one of four Hornet pitchers, including Drake Nightengale, Blake Ladner and Ashton Miley. Miley picked up the save.

Poplarville is now 3-4 on the season, and will host D’Iberville Saturday in a doubleheader beginning at 11 a.m. The Hornets begin District 8-4A play Tuesday against Vancleave.

In other local baseball action, both Picayune and Pearl River Central return to the diamond tonight. The Blue Devils, 2-0 in league play, travel to Hurley for a big match-up with East Central while the Maroon Tide head to Jackson County as well to face Gautier. The Maroon Tide is 1-1 in league play.

PRC is the only team that went 2-0 in the first round of district play, with as every other series split.

Easton Marshall struck out 11 and allowed just two hits as East Central defeated Long Beach 6-0 Tuesday.

In the first game between those teams, the Bearcats committed three straight errors in the bottom of the seventh to put the tying and winning runs on base, but an East Central base-runner was doubled off second following Kade McGill’s sacrifice fly as Long Beach held on for a 2-1 victory.

East Central starter Konnor Pilkington, a sophomore, took the loss. He is expected to take the hill tonight.

Gautier is expected to counter with ace Newt Brown.

The Blue Devils are expected to send Dylan Spiers to the mound tonight, while the Maroon Tide is expected to march ace hurler Jacob Taylor to the hill.

In other district action, Pascagoula, coming off a split with Picayune, hosts West Harrison and Long Beach travels to Moss Point. Moss Point and West Harrison split a pair of games also.