SIOUX CITY, Iowa – A storybook performance by freshman Maria Perez on Saturday allowed College of Saint Mary to complete a comeback for the ages and finish off a stirring softball sweep of Briar Cliff University.

Perez belted the first pitch she saw in the top of the fifth over the rightfield fence for a go-ahead three-run homer, the first of her career, and the Flames rallied from an 11-3 deficit in game two for a remarkable 14-11 victory. CSM won the Great Plains Athletic Conference opener 6-4.

"I'm so proud of our ladies!'' CSM Coach Carolyn Todd Bray said. "This was our biggest team effort for sure – we had to use so many substitutions and play some people out of position in the end there.''

The dramatic home run by Perez, from Hesperia, Calif., gave CSM a 12-11 lead. She added a two-run single in the seventh inning of game two, providing two insurance runs. She finished the second game 5 for 5 with a double, the homer and six RBIs. Perez was 2 for 4 in the opener with two RBIs, so she finished the doubleheader a blazing 7 for 9 with eight RBIs.

"Maria's first career home run couldn't have come at a better time!'' Bray said. "We see her hit bombs in practice all the time and knew it was coming soon.''

CSM improved to 5-21 overall and 3-7 in the GPAC with the sweep, while BCU dropped to 7-21 and 1-11.

A sweep looked bleak after CSM gave up eight runs in the fourth inning of game two to fall behind 11-3. But the Flames' offense exploded with nine runs in the fifth. Perez actually started things with an RBI double to score Shaylynn Campbell. Allyson Lynch drove in a run on an error to make it 11-5.

Remarkably, the Flames scored seven of their nine runs in the big inning after two were out. After the second out, Paige Stuck delivered a two-run single to trim it to 11-7. Ella Watts' single loaded the bases for Campbell, who smacked a two-run single for an 11-9 game.

That brought up Perez. Her three-run blast gave her two extra-base hits and four RBIs in the inning and sent the Flames dancing out of the dugout to congratulate her.

Megan Garcia, Lynch and Campbell battled in the circle. Lynch earned the win and Campbell pitched a scoreless final three innings for the save.

"All three pitchers did awesome,'' Bray said. "Ally was a huge factor in our win.''

Stuck went 3 for 5 with two RBIs, while Campbell ended 2 for 5 with two RBIs. Watts was 2 for 5 with three runs scored and Garcia was 2 for 3.

In the opener, Campbell went the distance, allowing four earned runs while striking out two and walking none. Campbell also led the offense by going 3 for 4 with two runs scored. Maycee Hays had a double and two RBIs, while Amber Kosmicki and Macy Santoni each drove in runs.

All in all, it was a day the Flames – and especially Perez – won't soon forget.

"I'm super proud of the team for battling back after we were down by the run rule!'' Bray said.

CSM is back in GPAC action on Sunday in Sioux City with a doubleheader at Morningside University at 1 p.m. and 3 p.m.