Despite being out-hit 10-5, it was all about timing as the Lady Comets on Thursday pulled out a 4-3 win over Blair Oaks in a game that went beyond the diamond in an effort to raise money for breast cancer research.

“Tonight, we did a majority of things right,” said Coach Dana Scheppers.

“We’ve been hitting up and down our line-up, and we had timely hitting tonight.”

Trailing 3-2 in the bottom of the fifth, that timely hitting showed itself most prominently as Karli Struemph hit a two-RBI double to give Fatima a 4-3 lead.

Gier wasted no time getting Fatima on the board with a dinger in the bottom of the first, but Blair Oaks answered with three runs in the top of the second.

“They came out hitting early on, but Chayce (Gier) settled in and kept them off balance, and did very well,” said Scheppers of the sophomore hurler, who struck out four and walked none in the complete-game effort.

“These girls wanted it. The last couple years we fell on the other end of it, and I think they wanted it bad, and did what they had to do get past it.”

Fatima scored its second run in the bottom of the fourth, after a pair of walks (Gier, Allyson Havens) led to an RBI single by Lauren Brandt.

In the fifth, two quick outs seemed to spell a quick end to the inning, but an error that allowed Londyn Stuckenschneider to reach created an opportunity Fatima would not waste.

Gier doubled to center field to push Stuckenschneider to third, setting the state for Struemph, whose double to center plated both of them.

The Lady Comets shut down Blair Oaks in order in the top of the sixth, and got around a single in the seventh to cinch the win.

“Our defense was pretty solid again tonight,” said Scheppers.

Offensively, Struemph and Brandt finished with two hits apiece, and of course,Gier had one but it was a big one.

From the circle, Gier allowed three earned runs on 10 hits.

Between the varsity and JV games, players from both teams joined on the infield for a balloon launch, followed by a presentation from Mid America Bank, which donated $500 to breast cancer research.

Scheppers said she’s pleased to be able to host a cancer awareness night, and having Blair Oaks on board was a great opportunity. Both teams were adorned with special shirts provided by Mid America Bank, and there was plenty of pink, the universal color for breast cancer.

Lone senior Madelyn Huhn said to raise more than $1,000 for cancer research was gratifying for the event, which took about three weeks to pull together.

“All the girls put in the time selling t-shirts, and we got a bunch of people to donate, so that was exciting,” said Huhn, adding breast cancer was personal for both teams. “We had a parishioner, Dionne Reinkemeyer, who was amazing. She was an inspiration for everybody, and I know it really hit our community hard because she was a great friend and a great person. We unfortunately lost her to breast cancer, so this was especially touching to be able to do this for her.

The Lady Falcons also had a person they lost to breast cancer, so I know this was important to everyone.”

Winning against Blair Oaks as icing on the cake, so to speak.

“It feels great,” said Huhn. “The girls played really well. We stuck through it the entire time. I’m so proud of my teammates and all the work they’ve put in.”

In the JV game, the Comets fell 6-0.

The team posted one hit, that by Morgan Luebbering, while Ellie Brune took the loss after two innings in  which she allowed four earned runs on three hits, with a walk. Rachel Woehr closed out the game, giving up one earned run on two hits, with two strikeouts and a walk.

On Monday of last week, the Lady Comets defeated Owensville 9-0.

“We hit well up and down our lineup,” said Scheppers.

“Chayce was solid yet again.”

Gier allowed four hits in the shutout, while striking out eight and walking none.

All nine of Fatima’s runs came in the fourth.

Brandt, who went 2-4, notched a double to lead off the frame, as Struemph reached on an error and Havens walked to load the bases for Gier, who delivered an single to score two and push Havens to third.

With Chesney Luebbering at the plate, Havens scored on a passed ball and Gier went to second, where she was replaced by courtesy runner Laney Bassett, who stole third. Luebbering hit a single to score Bassett, and Fatima led 4-0.

Two batters later, Huhn hit into a fielder’s choice that didn’t record an out, putting runners on the corners for Anna Eichholz, who walked, and then Stuckenschneider hit an RBI groundout to plate Luebbering.

Brandt came round again, this time hitting a sickle to left field to bring Huhn and Eichholz home. After Struemph hit a single, Havens hit a single of her own to score Brandt, and an error allowed Struemph to score, capping the offensive onslaught for Fatima.

Fatima won the JV game 11-1 after out-hitting the Dutchgirls 7-1 and scoring in three of four innings.

Lydia Brunnert hit a home run in the five-run third that effectively put the game away. Going into the frame, the Lady Comets held a 3-0 lead, and they added three more in the fourth.

Woehr’s two hits led the offense, while Brunnert, Caleigh Huot, Allison Schwartze (double), M. Luebbering and Taylor Bexten (double) each had one hit.

On the rubber, Woehr gave up one earned run in the one-hitter while striking out five and walking one over five innings.