The Mexico-Fulton softball game had a different feel this time around.

Mexico at Fulton NCMC Title Game Photo Gallery

The North Central Missouri Conference rivals have had numerous meetings in the past, including a 14-2 Fulton victory in Mexico this season, but Tuesday’s was for the conference title. Despite sharp defense, the Lady Bulldogs lost 2-1 to the fourth-ranked team in Class 3 and Fulton clinched back-to-back NCMC titles. 

Fulton (24-8-1, 9-1 NCMC) finished with 10 hits compared with four hits mustered by Mexico (16-11, 8-2 NCMC) against Natalie Underwood, who struck out 12. The Lady Hornets routinely have double-digit hits on its final scoreboard line so head coach Hanna Branch said Mexico’s defense definitely seemed ready to back up its freshman pitcher Aleigha Henderson. The Lady Hornets didn’t see Mexico’s freshman southpaw in the previous meeting and also didn’t see the earned run total on her final line score go north of two.

“Our defense was in the zone this game,” Branch said. “They’ve had several games where I felt like they were pretty solid, but this game especially was backing up our pitcher and really holding it down for her. They didn’t let a whole lot shake them either, especially when we’re in tough situations like bases loaded or crucial innings where we want to keep that run from scoring.”

There were a few of those crucial moments for Mexico like in the sixth inning. Fulton loaded the bases and just broke the tie at 1 with a bloop RBI single from Karlie Shoening, who had the Lady Hornets’ other RBI single in the second inning. Mexico’s other freshman pitcher Keerstan Ewing came in to pitch and allowed that game-winning hit but then induced two ground balls that were gobbled up by Jo Thurman and Kenley Jones for force outs at home plate.

Branch said the outfield also made plays to keep the score tied, namely when center fielder Brooke Teel threw out a runner trying to score for the third out in the fifth inning that caused catcher Hannah Loyd to jump for joy after applying the tag. At the start of the sixth inning, left fielder Maddy Feger limited Maddie Bright to a single instead of a double on a ball crushed to the gap.

“We were making heads-up plays,” Branch said. “Those little things make a huge difference when you play teams like this or when you’re in a game this close.”

Before Teel cut down a Lady Hornet at the plate in the fifth inning, Fulton had runners on first and third base with nobody out. Mexico stared a serious threat to break the tie in the face and didn’t break itself. First baseman Landri Teel fielded a bunt from Rilee Swaim and smoothy applied the tag on Swaim as she ran by before throwing to Loyd, who tagged the runner out at home to complete the double play.

“I loved that she had her head in it, and she knew from the get-go where she was going in that situation,” Branch said. “We talk about how we got to know before the pitch even comes where you’re going with the ball and in what scenario. I could tell Landri knew right away what she was doing. She was focused and wasn’t worried about anything else but that moment.”

Mexico, however, couldn’t find enough hits against Underwood. Emma Cunningham finished with half of the Lady Bulldogs’ total, including a double that eventually turned into the tying run in the fifth inning via a squeeze bunt by Feger. Underwood struck out the side in multiple innings and even caught the Lady Bulldogs looking several times, including once with the bases loaded in the fourth inning.

Underwood tallied eight strikeouts against Mexico in the first meeting that lasted only five innings via run-rule. Fulton’s junior pitcher still had good movement this time around.

“It took us a minute to adjust to her pitching,” Branch said. “She threw a lot up in the zone, and we fell for it right away. Once we adjusted our at-bats, we saw it down more and were aggressive on the pitches that were side-to-side instead of up or down. We had better at-bats and better outcomes, but anytime you face a pitcher that has a lot of movement, it’s going to humble you a little bit and you probably won’t get on a whole lot.”

Mexico’s freshmen pitchers are at the forefront of the team’s strengths despite the high-pressure game, Branch said. Henderson gave Fulton a different look than what it saw previously and Ewing maintained composure after inheriting a bases-loaded situation.

“I know Fulton is a big-time hitting team and just thought Aleigha has a lot of float to her ball and a lot of spin,” Branch said. “Sometimes, that can knock off hitters’ timing. We just kept going and going, taking it pitch-by-pitch, and she pitched a great game. A loss like this hurts, but I’m so proud of how well they handled all that pressure.”

The pressure-packed game on Tuesday definitely made it feel like districts had already arrived for Mexico, also taking into account Fulton is in Class 3 District 4. Branch said she hopes Mexico has the chance of playing the Lady Hornets again but is focused on reigning district champion and sixth-ranked Father Tolton (24-12) for 7 p.m. Thursday at Moberly. The Lady Bulldogs lost 5-2 to Father Tolton in a round-robin played in early September.

"Last time we played them was a close game, and I feel like we're very evenly matched," Branch said. "We are a different team confidence-wise at this point in the season than the first time we played them."