OMAHA, Neb. – One rough inning slightly dampened a hotly contested game one for College of Saint Mary in its home-opening softball doubleheader against seventh-rated Northwestern College on Friday.

The talented Red Raiders battled past the Flames 4-0 in game one before rolling to an 18-4, five-inning victory in the second game of their Great Plains Athletic Conference twinbill at the CSM softball complex.

"In that first game we played really well,'' CSM Coach Carolyn Todd Bray said. "They're a top 10 team in the nation, and for four innings we were looking really good. Actually, we played well for six of the seven innings. We just had one inning get away from us.''

Shaylynn Campbell's pitching kept the Flames (3-18 overall, 1-5 GPAC) well in contention in the opener. She scattered 11 hits in her seven innings, allowing just three earned runs.

"I thought Shay pitched really well,'' Bray said.

The Red Raiders (30-5, 10-0) finally broke through in the fifth, scoring three times to make it a 4-0 game with the benefit of three hits and two CSM errors.

Other than that inning, Bray was pleased with her defense.

"We did very well with our bunt coverage,'' she said. "That's what Northwestern does, a lot of small ball and try to create chaos. Amber Kosmicki played great at third.''

Kayla Reed had an outstanding diving catch in center field and Macy Santoni threw out a runner at third from left.

Offensively, CSM managed just three hits against Northwestern's Kate Kralik.

An illness to Megan Garcia left the Flames' pitching staff on the thin side for game two, and Northwestern did most of its damage in the first two innings.

CSM broke through with three in the bottom of the second. Claire Koile walked, Laurin Andrews singled and then Reed singled to load the bases for Campbell, who belted a three-run double.

Andrews also had a diving catch in the loss, while Ella Watts snared a line drive at third and fired to Kosmicki at first for a double play. Andrews and Campbell finished with two hits apiece.

"We're not happy with how that game got away from us and with two losses, but I told the team that I still think we are better right now than we were six hours ago,'' Bray said.

CSM's home games Sunday with Waldorf University have been postponed to a later date. The Flames will be back in action Wednesday in a home GPAC doubleheader against Mount Marty University at 3 p.m. and 5 p.m.

*In a heartfelt pregame ceremony, Head Coach Carolyn Todd Bray received her 2024 NFCA Donna Newberry "Perseverance" Award, and Assistant Coach Chad Bray received his 2024 NAIA Assistant Coach of the Year award from CSM Athletic Director Robbie Shay.