After some more decisive wins, Mexico was back in a one-run game on Monday.

The Bulldogs extended their winning streak to eight games with a 5-4 victory over returning Class 3 Final Four team South Callaway, stranding the tying run at third base to end the game. Mexico is 4-4 in one-run games and hadn’t played one since a 4-3 win over conference rival Fulton on April 4.

Mexico (12-6) had a 5-2 lead after the third inning that it had to maintain. The Bulldogs scored their first run on an error and then an Austin Maxwell groundout in the first inning and then plated three runs in the third inning when they scored off another error and a two-RBI double by Ashton Belcher.

Belcher had the lone two RBI for Mexico, and Chance McCarty and Brady Fox each had two hits. 

South Callaway (6-9) scored two unearned runs against Kaden Benne in his three innings with three strikeouts, two walks and one hit. Brady Fox closed the game in four innings of six hits and two strikeouts. 

Fox allowed a RBI double in the sixth inning but ended the inning with a double play and then allowed another RBI double in the seventh inning after starting out the frame with two strikeouts. A groundout stranded a runner on third base to end the game.

Mexico (3-2 NCMC) hosts North Central Missouri Conference foe Kirksville (7-7, 1-6 NCMC) at 5 p.m. Thursday, hoping to get revenge for a one-run 4-3 loss at Kirksville earlier this season.

Community R-6 no-hit by Poulsen, state-ranked New Franklin in 3-0 loss

Community R-6 couldn’t muster much offense on Monday.

The Trojans were handed their first Central Activities Conference loss of the season with a 3-0 defeat at Class 1 No. 5 New Franklin. Luke Poulsen pitched a no-hitter, striking out five and walking three in seven innings.

Poulsen had to outduel Community’s all-state pitcher Mason Carroll, who finished with a line of nine strikeouts, seven hits and three unearned runs in six innings. Carroll walked twice at the plate.

The Trojans (7-5, 2-1 CAC) had a rough defensive outing on Saturday in a 18-2 loss at home to Marceline and then added five more errors to their season total against New Franklin (8-6, 2-1 CAC).

Community hosts conference foe Slater (1-7, 0-1 CAC) at 9 a.m. Saturday.

North Callaway throws second straight no-hitter, defeats Mark Twain 14-1

A North Callaway pitcher did it again on Monday.

For the second straight game against an Eastern Missouri Conference opponent, the Thunderbirds were led by a no-hit effort from their pitcher as they defeated Mark Twain 14-1 in five innings at home. Carter Moore allowed one unearned run and struck out 10 in his five no-hit innings.

That lone run reached via an error, advanced via a steal and groundout and scored on a passed ball. Mark Twain (3-7, 1-3 EMO) couldn’t even draw a walk against Moore after that in a dominant outing that followed Sam Pezold’s five-inning no-hitter on Friday at Clopton.

Moore supported himself at the plate too, coming up with a two-RBI double in a four-run third inning that preceded an eight-run fourth inning. Kyle Pennell finished 2-for-3 with two runs scored, and Tucker Sheets had three RBI that were driven in with a sacrifice fly and a double.

North Callaway (9-4, 6-0 EMO) puts its undefeated conference record on the line at Montgomery County (8-6, 4-0 EMO) at 5 p.m. Thursday. The Thunderbirds have now outscored conference opponents this season 82-14.

Centralia snaps five-game losing streak, defeats Sturgeon 6-1

Centralia needed a win and secured one on Monday at home.

The Panthers defeated Sturgeon (6-6) 6-1 to snap a five-game losing streak. They scored four runs in the fifth inning to seal the game.

Elliott McCoy and Chase Kempker combined for six strikeouts, six hits and four walks in six innings. Kempker struck out five in 4 2/3 innings of relief. 

After Anthony Ford (2-for-4 with two RBI) broke the tie at 1 in the third inning with a RBI single, Centralia (7-7) scored in the fifth inning via a walk and groundout by Mattie Robinson and then a two-RBI single by Tuckyr Pollock (2-for-2 with two RBI).

Centralia plays at Moberly (10-3) at 5 p.m. today.