SHENANDOAH JUNCTION – After seeing its batters locked down in consecutive losses by the pitching of both Martinsburg and Hedgesville, Jefferson found its way back to the win column in a mercy-rule success against Washington.

The Cougars managed just four hits in a 5-2 loss at Martinsburg, and then followed that low-run performance with a 3-1 loss to Hedgesville, in a game where the Eagles’ left-hander Chase Delauter struck out 16 in all, but completely silenced the Cougar bats. Jefferson managed only two hits off Delauter.

In beating Washington, 10-0, in a six-inning, rule-shortened verdict at Bruce Davidson Field, the Cougars gleaned 11 walks or hit batsmen from the foursome of Washington pitchers. The winless Patriots (0-15) also made two errors, had a passed ball, were charged with a wild pitch, committed a balk and had three bases stolen against their defense.

Washington’s defensive misplays got Jefferson off to a 2-0 lead when the Patriots had two errors, walked Coleson Titus and uncorked a wild pitch in the second. In the next inning, Jefferson scored twice more without the benefit of a hit. Titus executed a safety squeeze for one of those runs.

Meanwhile, Jefferson right-hander Luke Payne was throwing strikes and retiring the Patriots in quick order. Titus threw out two would-be base stealers to end two Washington turns.

The first of Stevie Lee’s two long doubles to the fence in right-center began the profitable fifth for the Cougars. Lee scored on Zac Rose’s single and Chase Anderson’s sacrifice fly eventually plated Rose, after two more walks were gifted the Cougars.

It was 6-0 when the Cougars batted in the sixth. Lee’s second double and a walk to Rose came in front of Cullen Horowicz’s three-run home run. And later Anderson’s single and Dylan McCartney’s RBI single made it 10-0.

Payne was credited with his second win of the season over Washington. He went four innings, allowed two singles, walked just one and fanned three in muffling the Washington offense. McCartney struck out the side in the fifth and Jordan Trunnell got two strikeouts in the sixth.

After getting rained out of a scheduled doubleheader on Friday, the Cougars left for their annual tournament in the Myrtle Beach, South Carolina area.

Only Socastee High will show the Cougars a losing record among the first three South Carolina high schools the Cougars will see this week.

Jefferson is scheduled to play at least four games, and could possibly play more times if it won its game yesterday.

The Cougar record was 14-3 overall, going to Myrtle Beach where the competition is less likely to make the spate of mistakes Washington showed.