Mexico couldn't get back on track after the second inning on Tuesday at home.

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The Bulldogs scored the first run in the first inning but then allowed six runs in the second and eventually lost 8-1 to North Central Missouri Conference and district opponent Kirksville. Mexico finished with only four hits and 14 of its final 16 batters were retired to close the game.

Head coach Daniel McCarty said the start was good since Brady Fox led off the first inning with a single, stole second base and eventually scored on a throwing error to first base. Luke Cahalan, who went 2-for-3 with two RBIs, started Kirksville's big second inning  with a two-RBI single and Ryder Lyons pitched seven innings while only allowing one unearned run.

"We weren't staying back on the ball," McCarty said. "Our hitters were up there guessing instead of staying yes on the fastball. They were second-guessing themselves and the pitcher was getting ahead on the first strikes."

McCarty said Lyons featured a 12-6 curveball that he was able to locate for strikes and the Bulldogs couldn't adjust to it. Mexico hit many balls into the air that Kirksville were able to catch on a windy day. 

Mexico were threatening to score in the second inning after putting two runners on when Austin Maxwell reached on an infield error and Brayden Arnold singled. Fox appeared to beat out an infield hit but was called out at first base to end the inning and prevent Mexico from cutting into its 6-1 deficit.

McCarty said the call was a "deal breaker" after he believed Fox beat the throw by a "half step." He said the umpire explained it was a tie and kept the call as an out, which McCarty and Mexico didn't like but had to move on regardless. 

"Our guys carried it for three innings," McCarty said. "We have to fight adversity better. We've just got to play the game versus the game playing us."

Mexico was in a hole by that point, McCarty pointed out, after walking too many batters and not being as sharp defensively. An infield error extended the second inning for Kirksville and made it so all of those runs were unearned. Sam Ryan and Landon Hilderman combined to allow eight unearned runs and six walks.

McCarty said Mexico is still "building up" Ryan so he was taken out in the second inning for Hilderman. At one point, Hilderman retired 13 straight hitters to keep Mexico in the game and finished with a line of four strikeouts, three hits, two unearned runs and one walk in 5 1/3 innings. Hilderman pitched well considering the wind was blowing out.

"Landon came in with a mindset of 'I need to throw strikes, and I need to get outs,'" McCarty said. "'I need to find a way to get the ball on the ground to use his defense.' He was effective when he threw the first strike and got ahead."

Mexico has a chance to be in the win column in its conference schedule when it plays at Hannibal (2-6, 0-1 NCMC) at 5 p.m. Thursday and then has another conference and district matchup against Class 4 No. 4 Moberly (8-0, 2-0 NCMC) at 5 p.m. Monday.

"Overall, we've got to start better off in a game like that," McCarty said. "That's our first big inning we gave besides Southern Boone (in a 12-6 win on Saturday). We're learning and growing from it."