The Trojans were wiped out Thursday 15-0 by Class 4A Boone as the Toreadors caught fire offensively and held the Trojans to one hit — a single from Clara Dee.

Trojans coach Kim Tarbell said West Marshall lost its confidence when the Toreadors kicked up the pressure and said an inconsistent strike zone didn’t help matters.

“We just fell apart, missed plays we could have capitalized on,” Tarbell said. “I think they kinda gave up once we had a missed call. His strike zone was tough.”

Boone took the lead early with two runs in the top of the first inning off of starting pitcher Loran Nicholson, who went the complete game after not throwing against Carlisle Wednesday.

T-R PHOTO BY NOAH ROHLFING - The umpire acknowledges the ball falling out of West Marshall catcher Clara Dee’s glove as Boone’s Audrey Castle (15) scores a run in the fifth inning of Thursday’s softball game in State Center.

Nicholson gave up 15 runs (only eight were earned) on 11 hits and eight walks. Nicholson struck out three batters. The third inning brought the only home run of the evening, a two-run shot from Boone starting pitcher Emma Dighton to make it 4-0 in the Toreadors’ favor.

West Marshall struggled to connect with the ball as Dighton’s changeup was a thorn in the team’s side, Tarbell said.

“I don’t think any of them even fouled off the changeup,” Tarbell said. “Didn’t adjust well enough at the plate. [The Trojans] keep doing the same thing they do, they don’t adjust in the batter’s box.”

After another scoreless inning, the Toreadors struck in the fifth inning with four more runs. As Tarbell said, the Trojans didn’t have the same intensity, and the sixth inning was a romp for Boone’s offense.

Seven runs from Boone put the game out of reach and the Trojans went down in order to end the game.

T-R PHOTO BY NOAH ROHLFING

Defensive issues plagued West Marshall all game long — committing nine errors in total and missing throws Tarbell said the team normally would complete. With one week left of regular-season action before the postseason begins, the Trojans are in an interesting position. Sitting at 7-7 and finishing up a difficult week of games — in which they’ve lost 26-0 to 4A opponents — with a road trip to 5-10 Colo-NESCO. Winless Newton is the team’s final regular-season game, so there is still a chance for the Trojans to finish with a winning record.

But, as Tarbell said, there is work to be done.

“We’re gonna focus a lot on our defense,” Tarbell said. “I think that’s what’s hurting us — our defense has not been like it should be the last couple games.”