LOOSE CREEK — Fatima responded to a difficult start to the week with two strong performances Saturday, defeating Father Tolton 7-3 before falling 5-4 to Iberia in the championship game of the Fatima Quad at Loose Creek.

Coach Dan Campbell came away encouraged by the way the Lady Comets competed, particularly on defense and in the circle. “Our defense was great all day, which really makes me happy because we’ve been struggling a little bit defensively,” said Campbell. “We played well today defensively, and we pitched well. We threw strikes for the most part. We didn’t have a lot of walks.”

Fatima opened Saturday against Father Tolton, scoring three runs in the first inning before the Trailblazers gradually worked their way back into the game.

Tolton scored once in the fourth and twice in the fifth to pull even at 3-3, but the Lady Comets answered with two runs in the bottom of the fifth and added two more in the sixth to secure the 7-3 victory.

“That was nip and tuck the whole way, and then we finally broke away with a couple runs late,” said Campbell. “Two good games for us today. Two good close games, and we faced two pretty decent pitchers.”

Rylie Wieberg went 2-2 and drove in a run, while Marlee Oliver finished 2-3. Ava Heckemeyer, Gracie Atkins, and Wieberg each doubled, and Kamryn Lee drove in two runs. Sadi Lehmen walked twice, scored two runs, stole two bases, and drove in one.

Wieberg earned the win in the circle, allowing three runs, two earned, on five hits across five innings. She struck out five and walked two.

Heckemeyer worked two scoreless innings of relief, allowing one hit and striking out three with one walk.

The victory advanced Fatima to the championship game against Iberia, and the Lady Comets carried a 3-0 advantage into the sixth inning.

Iberia broke through with five runs in the top of the sixth to take a 5-3 lead.

The Lady Rangers strung together several hits at the right time, including one on a 3-2 pitch the Lady Comets would have liked back.

Even after the five-run swing, Fatima responded.

The Lady Comets scored in the bottom of the seventh and put themselves in position to extend the game before Iberia escaped with the 5-4 victory.

“We battled,” said Campbell. “I’m so proud of the girls for battling back. That was good for us to have a close game like this. Getting ready for districts, that’s what we needed.”

Lehmen went 3-4 and scored twice, while Wieberg finished 2-3 with two RBI and a run. Heckemeyer tripled and walked twice, and Maci Wilbers and Oliver each added a hit.

Heckemeyer threw six innings, allowing five earned runs on 12 hits while striking out two without issuing a walk. Carmen Luebbering pitched a scoreless seventh, allowing two hits and striking out one.

Fatima finished the game with eight hits and did not commit an error.

Campbell said Iberia provided the type of challenge the Lady Comets expected after Fatima won comfortably when the teams met earlier this season.

“They’ve got a quality team,” he said. “We beat them handily the first time, and we knew it wasn’t going to be like that today. Their shortstop is a phenomenal player, and she proved that today.”

Saturday’s performance followed losses to Centralia and Blair Oaks earlier in the week.

Fatima traveled to Centralia on Tuesday and was limited to one hit in a 7-1 loss.

After Centralia scored in the first, Oliver delivered Fatima’s lone hit and RBI in the second to tie the game 1-1.

Centralia regained the lead with three runs in the third and added two in the fourth and another in the fifth.

Centralia pitcher Jaylynn Brown struck out 15 Lady Comets.

“We tried to bunt her. We tried to do everything, and we did muster one run against her somehow,” said Campbell. “She had 15 strikeouts. She’s pretty dominant.”

Heckemeyer worked four innings and allowed six runs on seven hits, with two walks and two strikeouts. Luebbering allowed one unearned run on one hit over the final two innings and struck out one.

Fatima traveled to Blair Oaks on Thursday and built a 2-0 lead before the Lady Falcons rallied for a 4-3 victory.

Wieberg’s sacrifice fly put Fatima ahead in the first, and Wilbers added a sacrifice fly in the third.

Blair Oaks scored three runs in the fourth and one in the fifth to move ahead 4-2.

Heckemeyer gave the Lady Comets another opportunity in the seventh, blasting a solo home run to pull Fatima within one, but the Lady Comets could not push across the tying run.

Fatima was held to two hits, with Lehmen adding a double.

“Thursday night was disappointing,” said Campbell. “We did not play well. Even as bad as it was, we were up two to nothing. We battled back and had a chance at the end but just couldn’t get the big hit.”

Wieberg allowed four earned runs on eight hits across 4⅓ innings, striking out three and walking two. Heckemeyer was perfect over the final 1⅔ innings, striking out one.

Campbell said the inconsistencies remain part of the development process for a roster relying heavily on younger players.

“When you’ve got as many freshmen and sophomores as we’ve got out there, there are going to be some growing pains,” he said. “We’re going through it, but we’re learning from it, too. We’ll be better for it in the end.”