It was tough matchup after tough matchup for Mexico softball this past weekend.

The Lady Bulldogs opened the season in the Peoples Bank Back to School Classic at Sullivan, finishing 1-4. The teams they faced were far from pushovers as four were 20-win teams last year, three were Final Four teams, two were state champions.

On Friday, Mexico was no-hit against reigning Class 3 state champion and 35-win team Fatima in a 6-0 loss before then winning 3-1 against Northwest (Cedar Hill), who won 15 games a year ago. It was then a row of 20-game winners when Mexico lost 7-4 to 37-game winning Class 4 state champion Washington on Friday, and 3-2 to Class 2 Final Four team Linn and 1-0 to 25-game winner Father Tolton on Saturday.

The Lady Bulldogs needed four hits to defeat Northwest and support Keerstan Ewing, who allowed three hits in six innings and had two RBI. Claire Valenzuela also had a RBI.

Mexico led Washington 4-2 until a five-run fourth inning marred by three errors. Ewing, Valenzuela, Alyssa Miller and Kayleigh Samuelson each had a RBI.

Linn walked off Mexico on a single by Kenzy Hackmann. Hannah Loyd had a game-tying solo home run in the fifth inning, and Aleigha Henderson allowed one earned run on four hits in five innings.

Mexico and Tolton each had five hits and the lone run was scored via a walk in the third inning. Ewing had another solid outing in the circle with five hits allowed in six innings.

Mexico plays its home opener at 5 p.m. tonight against Bowling Green.