A North Central Missouri Conference softball title was within Mexico's grasp on Tuesday in Fulton. The Lady Bulldogs posted a much better performance in their second meeting with their conference rival than the 14-2 loss earlier this season but still fell short 2-1. Karlie Schoening had both RBI for Fulton (24-8-1, 9-1 NCMC), including the game-winning bloop single in the sixth inning.
Natalie Underwood struck out 12 and limited Mexico (16-11, 8-2 NCMC) to four hits in seven innings, but the Lady Bulldogs played stellar defense to match the fourth-ranked team in Class 3 inning by inning. Two Lady Hornet runners were cut down at home plate in the fifth inning thanks to a heads-up double play turned by first baseman Landri Teel and then center fielder Brooke Teel recorded an outfield assist at the plate for the final out of the fifth. Emma Cunningham finished with two hits and a double, and Aleigha Henderson allowed two earned runs on nine hits in five innings.
Mexico felt good with its performance despite the defeat. Head coach Hanna Branch said the Lady Bulldogs feel confident it can reverse the 5-2 loss earlier this season against sixth-ranked Father Tolton (24-12) when they play the reigning district champions in the first round of the Class 3 District 4 tournament at 7 p.m. Thursday at Moberly.
"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."
Look for the full story on Wednesday on the Mexico Ledger website. Mexico is scheduled to play in the opening round of districts on Thursday night so look for that story in the Saturday, Oct. 14, 2023, edition.
