Woodlan blanks Patriots

WOODBURN — The Patriots were riding a six-game winning streak.

Five of those victories had come by way of the mercy rule, including Thursday’s 10-0 shutout of conference rival Bluffton.

On Friday, they couldn’t muster a run in their first ACAC loss and second defeat of the season.

Jay County High School’s softball team was unable to get its dynamic offense going against Woodlan junior Abby Horn as it fell 7-0 to the host Warriors.

Woodlan (9-3, 2-1 Allen County Athletic Conference) got the only runs it would need when it scored twice in the first inning. It broke open the game with a five-run fourth.

Sophomore Mallory Winner took the loss, though just one of the seven runs against her was earned. She gave up seven hits and one walk while striking out one in four innings before Taylor Brown tossed the final two.

Austin Gaff powered the Warriors as she drove in four runs, going 2-for-3 with a home run. Avah Smith added a double, two runs and an RBI.

Jozey Shimp had two of the four hits for Jay County, which dropped to 13-2 overall. Riah Champ and Brown added one hit apiece.

The loss dropped the Patriots into a tie with Adams Central for the ACAC lead, both at 3-1. (They beat Adams Central 2-1 last week.) Woodlan and Heritage are both a half-game back at 2-1.

JCHS is back in action today in the Lady Panther Classic at Elwood.