Mexico was tired of sharing with Kirksville this softball season.

The Lady Bulldogs were 1-1 this season against Kirksville to force a share of the final North Central Missouri Conference championship and went into Wednesday’s Class 3 District 4 tournament first-round game in Macon matching the Lady Tigers’ 17 wins. Mexico (18-13) took the semifinal spot with a 6-3 victory, setting up a 5 p.m. game today with Hallsville (12-12).

Head coach Hanna Jones said her team had motivation to win this matchup after Kirksville (17-9) was ranked one spot ahead of Mexico in the district seeding. Since Mexico was the fifth seed facing No. 4 Kirksville, Jones said the Lady Bulldogs took advantage of having to hit first with two first-inning runs.

Mexico vs Kirksville Photo Gallery

“If we scored earlier in the game, it would bring momentum over to defense,” Jones said. “That was our thought process: to be aggressive and score early as much as we can.”

Mexico tacked on runs in the third inning with Hannah Loyd’s two-RBI home run and then Maddy Feger drove in two more in the sixth inning with her third double of the game. Keerstan Ewing pitched seven innings with seven hits, four strikeouts, three runs and one walk.

After scoring 10 runs on nine hits in Mexico’s first game against Kirksville, the Lady Bulldogs only had one run on five hits in the rematch.

“We were disciplined at the plate this time,” Feger said. “The game that we lost, we were not disciplined at the plate. This game, we changed and made great adjustments at the plate.”

Loyd’s groundout scored a run in the first inning but sent a ball airborne in her next at-bat. It carried over the fence for her career-high 10th home run of the season, matching the number on the back of her jersey.

Before reaching third base, Loyd screamed toward her dugout as her teammates crowded home plate to welcome her. 

“It felt good off the bat,” Loyd said. “It was a little short, but I knew it was good off the bat.”

Loyd was feeling just as good in the sixth inning. Feger’s hit made it 6-3 and then she slammed the door on Kirksville’s bases-loaded threat with two outs in the sixth inning. She ran down a liner in center field to prevent Kirksville from tying the game.

Mexico was playing on the dirt field with less powerful lighting so all four district games could be played that evening. Feger was relieved when the ball went into her glove.

“I actually lost it in the lights up there so I could not see it,” Feger said. “I stuck my glove out and prayed that I caught it. Fortunately, I did and that was perfect timing to get lucky.”

Jones said Feger tracks the ball well in the outfield so she was confident she could reach the ball. 

“I could tell she had a good route to the ball,” Jones said. “I was like, ‘Oh, is she going to get there?’ and she got there.”

Loyd and Feger impressed on the same day Mexico had girls named to the all-conference team. Ewing, Landri Teel and Aleigha Henderson filled out Mexico’s five girls, which matched Kirksville’s five.

Ewing allowed two runs in the fourth inning and one in the fifth. All-conference pitcher Paislee Clark hit a two-RBI home run off Ewing at a time Kirksville was finding more hard contact, but Jones said that didn’t faze the “mentally strong” Ewing. Jones said she proved why she deserved to be one the three all-NCMC pitchers.

“She learned from the previous at-bats and pitched around where their weaknesses were,” Jones said. “Keerstan has worked hard the past three years, and I’ve been wanting her to get some recognition. Finally, she’s gotten it.”

Hallsville upset top seed and state No. 2 Centralia (23-5) in a 3-1 game. Mexico doesn’t have to face Centralia but is not overlooking Hallsville.

“I’m feeling great before Hallsville,” Loyd said. “After tonight’s win, it’s going to give us a lot going forward. We needed that first win.”