Mexico had fun on its home field.

That is what head coach Daniel McCarty was looking for in the Bulldogs’ first North Central Missouri Conference game in less than a week, which was a 5-1 loss at Fulton. They beat Marshall 9-1 on Thursday after posting a five-run second inning.

Mexico (11-6, 2-3 NCMC) extended its winning streak to five games and prolonged a streak of scoring at least eight runs to four games. However, the Bulldogs wanted to get back in the conference win column after losing their previous three NCMC games by a combined eight runs.

Mexico vs Marshall Photo Gallery

“We typically go into conference games and press too much,” McCarty said. “Just have fun and relax. We know what Marshall (6-7, 1-2 NCMC) is going to bring, and we were prepared for it today.”

Those four games with at least eight runs also had at least 10 hits by Mexico, and there were several who came through with multiple and key hits. Drew DeMint finished 2-for-3 with three RBIs, one triple and one double; Gatlin Denham went 3-for-3 with two RBIs; Chance McCarty was 2-for-3 with two RBIs; and Brady Fox was 2-for-4 with two doubles.

McCarty said the second inning was when the Bulldogs “broke it open” after they manufactured some runs up to that point. DeMint highlighted the inning with a two-RBI triple he lined into the gap.

“That was the hit of the game to me,” McCarty said. “It was a hit to right center that scored those two runners and added more to the cushion. He’s adding on to his (career) triple record.”

Kaden Benne settled in after allowing one run in the first inning. Benne pitched seven innings with six hits, three strikeouts, two walks and one earned run.

McCarty said the second inning helped Benne relax, and he displayed the good command Mexico has had as of late. The Bulldogs have walked 12 batters in the last five games after walking 46 batters in the first 12 games.

“In the first game, we were talking about all the errors and all the freebies,” McCarty said. “Freebie is a walk, hit by pitch, stolen base and all that kind of stuff. We’ve been keying in on those stats, and it’s opened the eyes of some guys. If we win the freebie war, we can win any ballgame.”

McCarty also said some freshmen had to step up to start varsity as more starters are still sick. Catcher Pearson Kleinsorge and Kinser Groves, who was the previous day’s starting pitcher, were out with sickness. 

Denham has been healthy in his first season as a varsity starter. The junior first baseman is hitting over .300 and owns an OPS over .800 despite him noticing that “pitching is a lot better” at the varsity level.

“I was just trying to put the ball in play and put pressure on the other team,” Denham said. “Put pressure on them to make a mistake.”

First basemen are usually busy in the field while catching throws from their infielders and from their pitchers on pickoff attempts. Denham’s past two games have been especially busy as he has made multiple putouts catching pop flies during windy conditions. He said those plays “aren’t a huge concern” if “you know the conditions and where the ball is going to go,” and he feels prepared for any situation after a lot of practice.

“We had three senior first basemen graduate so I had to step up,” Denham said. “I’m not as tall as our old first baseman, so the whole time has to adjust to make sure they’re not overthrowing.”

That three-game losing streak feels far in the past, Denham said.

“It feels amazing,” Denham said. “The team is up in morale. It feels amazing to finally be winning.”