The home opener was going to go differently for the Mexico offense.

Mexico vs Bowling Green Photo Gallery

That was what the Lady Bulldogs thought and proved in a 9-2 win over two-time reigning district champion Bowling Green (0-2) on Wednesday at Gallop Field in Mexico. Mexico (2-5) scored a season-high nine runs on a season-high 12 hits, going way beyond than the 1.8 runs average in the team’s first six games.

Head coach Hanna Branch said the Mexico team on Wednesday resembled the one she coached last year and is the one she believes it can be this year. The Lady Bulldogs weren’t leaving pitches in the “umpire’s hands” like has been the case through the first few games. 

“We came in with a different approach at the plate,” Branch said. “We were a lot more aggressive and were also very particular on different pitches. With two strikes, a lot of the girls were good about battling any pitches that were close. They weren’t watching strikes go by like we normally have.”

Bowling Green’s softball program has been high-caliber the past few years, which lives up to the competition Mexico has faced already this year. Still, the Lady Bulldogs have played five games with a run differential of less than three while losing four of them.

Mexico didn’t wait too long to strike either as was the case in a 3-2 loss Tuesday at Marshall. The Lady Bulldogs scored twice in the first inning, including one that crossed on a RBI double by Landri Teel. A four-run fifth inning busted the game wide open for Mexico.

Keerstan Ewing had two RBI, Hannah Loyd finished with 3-for-4 with a RBI double and Maddy Feger had two doubles and two runs scored. Kayleigh Samuelson was 2-for-4 with three RBI and was responsible for the game-winning RBI in the third inning on a triple that fell just beyond the sliding right fielder and stayed fair down the line.

“I was pumped because, as soon as she puts the ball in play, she’s pretty speedy so she’s going to be tearing up the bases as soon as she got on,” Branch said in reaction to Samuelson’s RBI triple. “It’s really cool to see players that are kind of new to a varsity role step up and make a big difference and make the big plays.”

Branch said it’s difficult to know the timing of a player’s big moment and was even harder to predict while facing a quality team like Bowling Green. Samuelson, who played a little time with varsity as a sophomore last season, was all smiles after reaching third base.

“I was honestly really glad that they did not catch it,” Samuelson said. “I felt really good to have that hit.”

Samuelson said she liked the plate appearances from everybody in the lineup and thinks staying focused will lead to “a simple hit” which can spark big innings like on Wednesday.

“I was glad I got it in play, no matter where it went,” Samuelson said. “It helped the team out a lot, just to put the ball in play and do something simple. A lot of people feel like they need to crush it, but simple is what helps the most.”

Branch said Mexico will have some growing pains based on how many young players they have, including some that have been in the starting lineup. However, that doesn’t mean the Lady Bulldogs feel unprepared for varsity action.

In the case of sophomore pitcher Keerstan Ewing, she had another good outing in the circle with  seven innings with one earned run on six hits. Ewing, who pitched varsity all last season as a freshman, previously had two complete outings this season that went at least six innings and contained one earned run.

“She has really good command,” Branch said. “You can tell she has a confidence about her. She’s very steady, and she doesn’t let any kind of situation rock her. She’s almost stoic where you don’t know whether she’s behind or anything. She’s just in the zone and stays within herself.”

“I trusted Hannah (Loyd) with pitch calling behind the plate,” Ewing said about her outing against Bowling Green. “I made sure I hit my spots and got the ball where it needs to go so the ball can get played by my defense.”

Branch said she’s amazed Ewing can have that unwavering mindset while being so young as a varsity pitcher. Ewing allowed Bowling Green’s lone runs on a RBI double by Reagan Jennings in the sixth inning but followed that by starting a 1-6-3 double play to end the threat.

“I’m making sure I’m hitting my spots and trusting my defense because I know people are going to hit the ball and they’re going to put it in play,” Ewing said. “I know my defense is going to be behind me backing me up.”

Mexico plays in the Battle Round Robin tournament on Saturday in Columbia. The Lady Bulldogs play Marion C. Early (1-5) at 11:45 a.m. Saturday, then Father Tolton (4-2) at 1:30 p.m. and Battle (2-4) at 4:45 p.m.

“That’s the team I know and love,” Branch said. “It felt like us.”