Whenever Mexico needed runs on Tuesday, they happened.

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That was largely due to the top four in the Lady Bulldogs’ lineup as Hannah Loyd, Maddy Feger, Landri Teel and Payton Shaw combined to go 11-for-14. Mexico’s 14 hits were enough to knock off North Central Missouri Conference foe Marshall 11-7 at Gallop Field in Mexico.

Mexico (10-12, 4-3 NCMC) began the night with five runs in the first inning, then scored three in the fifth when Marshall (9-11, 5-4 NCMC) cut its deficit to 5-3 and finally the Lady Bulldogs put the game away with four runs in the sixth inning when Marshall only trailed 8-7. Head coach Hanna Branch said each of those girls at the top of the Mexico order bring so much to the plate.

“The biggest impact is the consistency,” Branch said. “They’re consistently getting on, whether it’s getting walked or putting the ball in play.”

Feger was moved to the No. 2 spot in the order starting with six games prior on Sept. 24 against Moberly. Branch said Feger has piled up the hits to put herself in position to score for those behind her. After Tuesday’s game, Feger extended her multi-hit game streak to five games. 

As is her job as the No. 3 hitter, Branch said Teel has done well driving in runs, impressing her with her approaches throughout the game. In three games this past weekend at the California Tournament, Teel went 6-for-11 with seven RBI in three games. 

Feger and Teel made a habit on Tuesday of placing their hits up the middle, splitting the Marshall infielders. Branch said this a great sign for a hitter.

“It definitely shows how much they’re timing the ball,” Branch said. “Especially when you have different speeds in the pitching, it is hard to adjust your timing. That’s probably one of the most challenging parts of the game. They have done a really good job of adjusting to each pitcher we’ve played against.”

Teel and Feger agreed their timing has been better as of late, and they were each able to take advantage of where the Marshall fielders were on Tuesday. They are also confident that there will be someone on base or at least someone that sets them up for success.

The leadoff hitter Loyd has been in the No. 1 spot all year and has consistently taken quality at-bats for her and her teammates’ benefit. Loyd went 2-for-4 with a triple, double and a RBI against Marshall. 

“We feel confident,” Teel said. “Hannah is good at getting on base, Maddy is good at hitting it around and is good at getting at multiple bases, and I’m good at hitting in the gaps so we score.”

“I’m very confident in our lineup just because Hannah is good at getting on,” Feger said. “If I need to move, I can lay down a bunt or get a base hit to get people moved around and then Landri can come around and put in the gap to score us.”

Teel and Feger have each hit into a groove that is partially carrying the offense to five wins in the previous seven games. Both agreed on what has helped them the most this season.

“I have really been paying attention to the at-bats that have happened before me so I know where she is pitching it and how she is pitching,” Feger said. “If she has two strikes on me, is she going to throw me a changeup? I really try to pay attention to that so I know what’s going to come in that at-bat.”

“Knowing what she is going to throw in different situations (has helped me too),” Teel said.

Marshall cut its deficit to 8-7 after a four-run sixth inning thanks to some defensive miscues by Mexico, including a potential double play ball being dropped and a bunt not being fielded cleanly to load the bases. Almost a handful of errors contributed to a “freak-out moment” for the Lady Bulldogs, Branch said, but she said they did a good job of regrouping to mentally reset and escape the inning with the lead.

With two outs in the bottom half of the sixth inning, first went Feger and then went Teel as they each hit themselves on. Shaw then crushed her second double of the game to score both of them prior to her fellow underclassmen Alyssa Miller driving in another run with a fly-ball double. 

“She did a good job of battling,” Branch said. “She finally made the perfect adjustment to the speed of the ball and hit one right up the middle, which is where we want it. It was hit hard, which is what we need too. It kept us alive and sparked some energy through the rest of our lineup.”

Understandably, Branch has written out several different versions of the Mexico lineup this season to find the right combination. The top three in the order, at least, have been on fire and are convincing Branch that they could remain there to the end.

“I’m very confident when I put them there,” Branch said. “They are definitely some that are going to spark our order right from the start. I have all the trust in the world in them, and I know they are going to take good approaches.”

Mexico plays at conference foe Moberly (7-13, 3-4 NCMC) at 5 p.m. today.