Mexico had a strong start to Monday’s game and its week.

The Lady Bulldogs (11-4) scored four runs in the first inning before winning 13-3 in five innings against Marshall on Monday at Gallop Field in Mexico. They finished with 14 hits, including five extra base hits, one game after winning 15-5 in five innings in Fulton.

Payton Shaw reached base every time against Marshall (1-6), finishing 2-for-2 with five RBIs. Three of those crossed after Shaw crushed her second home run of the year over the left field fence. 

Mexico vs Marshall Photo Gallery

“It did feel really good,” Shaw said. “I’m really bad with slow pitchers, so I’m glad I got the jump right off the bat.”

Alyssa Miller added another home run in the fifth inning and went 2-for-3 with three RBIs. Payton Sells finished 2-for-3 with three RBIs, Aleigha Henderson was 3-for-3 with a double and one RBI, and Sammie Gipson went 2-for-4 with three runs and also pitched five innings with five hits, five strikeouts and one earned run. 

Mexico has scored at least eight runs in four of its previous five games, and all of those resulted in victories for the Lady Bulldogs, However, head coach Hanna Jones said Monday’s victory stood out because of how much early damage Mexico did. Four days prior at Fulton, Mexico had one run through three innings before an 11-run fourth inning, and the offense only scored one run through the first three or four innings before a big inning in the previous two wins against Macon and Hannibal.

“The biggest thing was, right out the gate, we were making adjustments early, getting on and scoring runs,” Jones said. “That was a big confidence boost for us because normally we are kind of late starters when it comes to scoring.”

Jones said Mexico has usually needed some time to tinker with its timing based on the speed of the pitcher and also its pitch selection. 

“A lot of our hitters are aggressive,” Jones said. “Sometimes, we’re not as disciplined at the plate. Tonight, we did a good job of not only having good timing on certain pitches but also being aggressive on good quality pitches that we know we can hit.”

The top of the Mexico lineup was effective at setting the table against Marshall. Gipson, Keerstan Ewing and Shaw combined to go 5-for-7 with seven runs scored. In the Fulton, the bottom of the order did damage as Chloe Landrum and Claire Valenzuela combined to hit 5-for-7 and each had four RBIs.

Jones said the team “isn’t a machine.” While Mexico hopes to be clicking on all cylinders, she said the girls are human and are there to pick each other up.

“The girls aren’t a machine,” Jones said. “There’s going to be days where they’re not exactly the strongest. They’re still putting the ball in play, but it’s not going their way. There’s other days where they’re dominant, seeing the ball well and finding the gaps. It’s really been a team effort.”

Even on her down days, Shaw said she knows her teammates are there for her. She missed the first six games of her senior season because of a sprained ankle but is now feeling healthy and settled back into the lineup. Mexico was 5-1 in those first six games.

“It really helps that we bond as a team,” Shaw said. “Even when we make little mistakes, we always pick up from it instead of getting down on ourselves. No matter what, even if we start out bad, we still try to come back and do as much as we can.”

Jones said this week is busy with four games following the Marshall game, including a triangular on Saturday at Class 2 Montgomery County (8-4). This Monday is a home game against district foe Kirksville (9-5) on Monday, which will be a rematch of a 5-4 Mexico loss.

“I know we started last week a little rough (in an 11-0 loss at Class 3 No. 2 Centralia),” Jones said. “It’s nice to start off with a win and have a confidence boost.”

Shaw said she can’t wait to play this week in 70-degree weather after dealing with 90-degree temperatures up to this point.

“I love this weather,” Shaw said. “It’s been way too hot. I’m glad it’s cooled down.”