Despite carving out an 11-4 win over Mexico on Thursday, the gap was never a comfortable one for hosts Father Tolton.

Four times the Bulldogs left runners in scoring position – twice filling the bases – without finding a way to bring them in. An opportune hit, a bad hop, an error or anything extending the inning would have changed the outcome.

Mexico took an early lead when Madeline Williams came home on a Riley Thurman single in the second. Karlee Sefrit reached on an error in the third and put the Bulldogs on top 2-0 when Taylor DeMint smacked a base hit to center.

But Father Tolton exploded for four in the bottom half of the inning and four more in the fourth, capped by a Madison Uptegrove three-run homer.

The Bulldogs rallied in the seventh when DeMint doubled in Sefrit and later scored on an error.

Mexico almost broke the game open in the first. Riley Thurman and Abby Bellamy drew walks. Jordyn Thurman yanked a single down the left field line. Unfortunately for the Bulldogs, Payton Greening reached the ball before the elder Thurman could round third.

It was a promising start, but the next three hitters went down, leaving the bases jammed.

With Sefrit already across in the third and DeMint perched on first, Brooke Teel looped a one out single to left. Runners were still on first and second with two down when Ruby Haefling drove the ball to left. But it was hauled in by Greening.

Jordyn Thurman led off the fifth with a base hit and made it to third before the third out was recorded.

The Bulldogs almost rallied again in the sixth. Base hits by Lexie Willer and Williams and a two-out walk by Bellamy loaded the bases. A fielder’s choice nullified the threat.

DeMint, Williams and Jordyn Thurman recorded two hits each for the Bulldogs. DeMint added two RBIs and courtesy runner Kenley Jones scored twice.

Although Jordyn Thurman took the loss, she had strong stuff. Seventy percent of the pitches she threw were strikes.