The Hornets spotted the state-ranked Comets a 7-0 advantage in falling 10-5 in the rescheduled third-place game of the 21st-annual Fulton Tournament on Wednesday night at the high school athletic complex.
Fulton - which also lost at home to Fatima 9-5 on April 20 - finished the regular season with a 10-14 record. The Comets are ranked No. 1 in Class 3 by the Missouri High School Baseball Coaches Association.
Fatima got off to a fast start Wednesday night, tallying three runs in the top of the first inning. The Comets then tacked on a run in the third, two more in the fifth and one in the fifth to build their big lead.
The Hornets rallied in their half of the fifth by breaking out for four runs. Sophomore first baseman Jared Peery delivered a three-run double and sophomore courtesy runner Cameron Vititoe eventually scored on a Fatima error to bring Fulton within 7-4.
The Comets countered with a run in the sixth and the Hornets manufactured their final run in the bottom of the inning. Sophomore left fielder Josh Quick drew a leadoff walk and came around to score two batters later by advancing on three passed balls.
Fatima secured the victory by putting up two runs in the seventh.
Quick went 1-for-2 as Fulton collected seven hits. Junior third baseman Tristan Steffens and junior Trenton Clines - who started in right field, pitched an inning, then moved to center - were both 1-for-3 and scored a run. Peery was also 1-for-4.
Sophomore starter Devon Keltner worked just one inning in taking the loss for the Hornets. Keltner gave up three runs - two earned - on two hits, walked four and struck out two.
Fulton, receiving the fifth seed, meets No. 4 Moberly at 11 a.m. Saturday in the first round of the Class 4, District 8 Tournament in Mexico. The Hornets dropped both meetings with the Spartans during the regular season - 2-1 at Moberly on April 16 and 7-3 in Fulton on April 28.