MAGEE — Poplarville got off to a successful start in the Class 4A South State baseball playoffs Thursday night.

The Hornets knocked off Magee 9-5 to take game one in the best of three first round series. Game two is scheduled for tonight in Poplarville at 7 p.m.

The visiting Hornets wasted no time in getting started, scoring four runs in the top of the first frame.

Chandler Ray led the game off with a single and then stole second. Jake Smith followed with a run-scoring single to put Poplarville up 1-0, and then two batters later Hayden Freeman ripped a two-run single to make it 3-0. Austin Darden added an RBI-single to make it 4-0.

In the bottom of the frame, Ray hauled in a catch in left-center field and quickly fired back to second base to nab the Trojan runner for an inning ending double play.

The Hornets added to the lead in the third, scoring another run thanks in part to singles by Smith and Freeman again to make it 5-0.

Poplarville sealed the win in fourth, scoring four runs to take a commanding 9-1 lead. Ray and Brandon Spiers singled, and Luke Goodwen followed with a two run triple. Smith also drove in a run with a ground out, and Darden drove in Freeman.

Blake Ladner picked up the win on the hill for the Hornets.

If Magee wins tonight and a third game is needed, then the teams would meet again Saturday afternoon at 2 in Poplarville.

The winner of this series advances on to play Columbia beginning Thursday..