ELLISVILLE – Facing the nation's top-ranked softball team for just the fourth time in program history, Northwest was defeated 9-1 and 4-0 at Jones County on Friday to snap a season-long eight-game winning streak.

JCJC improved to 22-0 and 6-0 in conference play while Northwest fell to 10-8 overall and 4-2 in the MACJC.

Northwest struck first in the opening game of the day as Ally Judkins tripled to right field and scored a batter later on Tori Luke's RBI-single through the left side.

The lead was short-lived, however, as JCJC scored six in the bottom half of the inning off six hits and two Ranger errors. Back-to-back RBI-doubles by Kelly Byrd and Autumn Frost gave the Bobcats their first lead and Brittany Baty's two-run homer to left-center helped make it 6-1 Cats after one.

Haylee Morse (5-0) cruised in the circle for JCJC, retiring the final 13 Rangers in order after Luke's single in the first.

Harley Smith did a nice job in relief of Luke (5-3) after a six-run first, with the freshman scattering five hits, one earned run and two strikeouts the final three innings.

JCJC tacked on three more in the fourth, taking advantage of two more Ranger errors, for the 9-1 win in five innings.

Smith's strong relief effort in game one transferred over to game two of the doubleheader. After giving up three JCJC runs in the first, Smith (3-4) retired nine straight Bobcats at one point and held one of the nation's top offenses to four runs in a complete game.

Northwest had a pair of scoring chances in the third and fifth, getting a runner to third with two outs, before groundouts ended both threats.

Amanda Holliday (7-0) scattered three hits, no runs and five strikeouts to help the Bobcats stay unbeaten on the year.

Northwest will close out a weekend road swing at 12th-ranked East Central (21-3, 6-2 MACJC) on Sunday.