The Mexico softball team ran into a buzzsaw at the two-day Lady Jays Softball Classic, winning only one out of four games.

But the tough competition has the Bulldogs battle tested near the midway point of the season.

Mexico’s lone win came in a thrilling 5-4 win over Farmington in its second game of the tourney Friday. The Bulldogs had opened with a 6-1 setback to Francis Howell Central earlier in the day. On Saturday, they fell 10-5 to Ozark and 5-0 to Fatima.

In the Farmington contest, Mexico jumped ahead 2-1 in the first inning but trailed 4-2 heading into the sixth inning. The squad responded with three runs in the frame in the win.

Abby Oetting, Karlee Sefrit and Abby Bellamy each had two hits to lead the Bulldogs. Riley Thurman also had a team-high two RBIs.

Eboni Mayfield pitched five innings and had two strikeouts. Jordyn Thurman also pitched an inning.

In the tourney opener against Howell Central, Mexico fell behind 3-0 in the first inning. The Bulldogs’ lone run was scored in the fifth on an RBI from Thurman, who had a team-high two hits. Oetting also reached twice on walks.

In Saturday’s games, Mexico jumped ahead 4-0 but Ozark answered with five runs in the third and tacked on three more in the fourth to take control. Bellamy had two hits and Sefrit contributed two RBIs in the loss.

In the tourney finale, Sefrit had the lone hit as Fatima scored twice in the second inning and added runs in the next two innings. Oetting reached twice, both on walks, in the loss.

Earlier in the week, Mexico picked up a 6-1 win over Fulton on Thursday, snapping a two-game skid following losses to Centralia (6-5) and Boonville (12-5).

In the Fulton contest, Oetting and Sefrit each had three hits in a 12-hit attack to lead Mexico. The Bulldogs led 4-1 after two innings and tacked on two more runs in the fourth for insurance. Oetting and Thurman also had two RBIs apiece.

Thurman earned the win on the mound with a complete-game, five-strikeout performance.

Against Boonville, Mexico plated five runs in the fifth inning to grab a one-run lead. However, Boonville responded with three runs in the next inning to retake the lead and added five insurance runs in the seventh.Oetting had four RBIs to lead the Bulldogs.

A two-run lead slipped away Sept. 15 in the loss to Centralia. The Panthers, who had 10 hits, scored three runs in the bottom of the sixth to grab the win. Brooke Teel had two hits for Mexico.

Mexico played Marshall and Moberly to begin the week. They play at Father Tolton on Thursday and host Kirksville Sept. 28 at 5 p.m.