Washington had not scored against Jefferson in 13 innings this season.

On Tuesday at Sager Field, the Patriots hadn’t scored in five turns against Austin Cross. That made 18 straight innings they had been blanked by Jefferson pitching.

But Jefferson hadn’t scored against Washington’s Jack Dubyak, either. The important Sectional game was scoreless.

In the previous regular season game between the teams, it was Washington leaving base runners at nearly every turn when facing Cross. That six-inning, mercy-rule win by Jefferson saw Washington strand 12 runners.

On Tuesday, it was the Cougars stranding the runners they managed. They left the bases loaded in the second. Again, they left the bases loaded in the fifth.

The game went to the sixth still scoreless.

Cross retired the first man he saw in that inning. But then Spencer DeLawder poked an opposite field double toward the right field foul line.

Cross retired Trey Virts for the third time. DeLawder was still standing at second.

Cameron Pine broke the Washington scoring drought in a big way. He singled to left . . . and DeLawder rode home to give the Patriots a first-seen lead over the Cougars.

After an intentional walk and another walk, Cullen Watson lined a single over shortstop that plated an additional two runs . . . and the Patriots had all the runs the game would see because Dubyak continued his shutout pitching for two more innings with Washington winning, 3-0, to take the upper hand in the three-team, double elimination tournament.

Dubyak allowed three hits to Mason Steeley, walked or hit four batters and continually escaped the mild rallies by stranding nine Jefferson base runners. He was helped by an inning-ending double play in the third. Dubyak fanned five.

Cross finished his complete game by yielding only four hits — three in the fateful sixth. He fanned four.

In the aftermath of the Washington success, the Patriots needed one more victory to become the Sectional winner. Jefferson had to eliminate once-beaten Hampshire on Wednesday and then find the runs to defeat Washington in two straight games.

The tournament continued on through the week. The Sectional champion waits until the week of May 22 before beginning a best two-of-three Regional series with the survivor of the tournament played among the four Class AAA teams in Berkeley County.

Scoring in one inning in the 20 it has played against Jefferson this season has put the Patriots on the cusp of Sectional title.