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Morristown East softball ended its regular season on Tuesday the same way it started it by losing to Union County.

And unfortunately for the Lady Hurricanes, another start and finish was a 13th consecutive loss just as the season began. They won what turned out to be the exact middle game on their schedule and finished with a 1-26 worksheet, which they took into the District 1-4A Tournament play-in game at West Ridge on Wednesday.

Union County scored four times in the top of the sixth and held on for a 9-6 victory on Tuesday and improved to 7-16 for the season by spoiling Senior Night for East.

East had battled from behind to knot the score at 5-5 on a Jaycee Hamilton two-run homer, her second round-tripper of the game, before the Patriots regained the upper hand.

Kingston Brown picked up the mound decision in relief of Olivia Reed. Brown entered in the fifth inning and gave up the three runs that tied the game. She allowed six hits, four runs, walked one, hit one and struck out two.

Strikeouts were a problem for the Lady ‘Canes as they wound up with nine, probably because they couldn’t figure out what would be called a strike because the strike zone seemed to be everywhere.

Hamilton, East’s leading hitter, had not struck out in the 26 previous games. However, she was called out in the fourth inning on a pitch that nearly hit her in the chin.

Fans were constantly on the ump about his strike zone and he actually stopped play and threw out a fan after the final out in the East fifth.

East pitcher Paige Horner didn’t get the benefit of bad pitches being called a strike very often. She pitched the entire seven innings and gave up 11 hits while walking five and striking out four.

Kinley Farmer led the Patriots with two triples and a single and knocked in two runs in the big sixth.

Jaelyn Valentine banged out three singles for the Lady Hurricanes to go along with Hamilton’s homers. Horner had a triple with Tayla Brice and Danica Winstead adding singles.

East coach Leslie Clemmons said, “I was proud of the way we competed. Jaycee had a big night with the home runs and Jaelyn really came through with those three hits.

“I also thought Paige threw one of her best games of the entire year and competed all night in the circle.”

Clemmons added, “But, more than anything, I’m proud of our seniors. Jaelyn, Macy (Davis) and Jaycee have been the heart of this team.

“Through a tough rebuilding year, they’ve stayed positive, worked very hard and shown up for us every day. They’ve given us everything they had and that’s all you can ask for.”

After the three were honored in pregame ceremonies, Union County went right to work. Putting together four hits to score three runs in the top of the first.

East had a runner in the bottom of the inning but she was thrown out trying to steal second. Hamilton then led off the second with a long home run to get the margin down to 3-1.

Horner set down nine straight before Allie Lay homered for the Lady Patriots in the fourth. The Lady Hurricanes got one back in the fourth when Valentine singled and scored on a hit by Brice but East left runners on second and third.

Farmer tripled and scored on a wild pitch to up Union County’s lead to 5-2 in the top of the fifth before East got back in it.

Winstead walked and was forced out by Horner who scored on a hit by Valentine before Hamilton followed with another long home run to tie the game.

The winners then strung together three hits, a walk and hit batter to reclaim the lead.

The Lady ‘Canes got their final marker in the seventh when Horner tripled and scored on Valentine’s third hit.