Bad weather put Warren Central behind the 8-ball in its quest for the Division 4-6A championship. A bad inning sealed the deal.

Clinton scored five runs in the third inning Wednesday, then held off the Lady Vikes’ comeback attempt to win 7-5 and clinch the division title.

Morgan Dubose had five strikeouts in a complete-game win, and also went 2-for-3 with an RBI double during the Lady Arrows’ big third inning.

Brooke Patterson had two hits and two RBIs for Warren Central (19-3, 4-2 Division 4-6A), while Grace Franco and Jordan Lee each had two hits and an RBI.

Clinton won the first meeting between the teams, 9-6, on March 27 when the game was halted by rain in the fifth inning. That meant Warren Central needed to win by at least three runs in the rematch at Lucy Young Field to have a shot at the division championship.

Clinton, however, jumped on top with a run in the first inning and five more in the third. Another run in the fourth made it 7-0.

Warren Central scored in each of its next three at-bats to get within two runs, and did outhit the Lady Arrows 9-7, but couldn’t complete the comeback.

Clinton (14-5, 4-0) earned a first-round bye in the Class 6A playoffs. Warren Central will play Grenada in a play-in round series beginning April 24.