OMAHA, Neb. – College of Saint Mary whisked away the disappointment of a 4-1 game-one loss with a superlative offensive effort in game two, rolling past Dordt University 13-3 in five innings to earn the split of their Great Plains Athletic Conference softball doubleheader on Suicide Prevention Awareness Day at the CSM complex.

"We're really happy with our offensive performance in that second game,'' CSM Coach Carolyn Todd Bray said. "We got on them in between games about being more aggressive at the plate and having better quality at-bats, and they definitely did a great job responding. We had hits up and down the lineup.''

Amber Kosmicki was the star of game two, bashing a pair of home runs over the left-field fence and finishing 2 for 2 with five RBIs and three runs scored.

Kosmicki followed Maria Perez's RBI single in the first inning with a two-run shot, putting CSM (6-25, 4-10) up 3-1.

In the third inning, CSM matched its season-high for runs in an inning by crossing the plate nine times, smacking seven hits in the process. After a pair of walks, Megan Garcia and Macy Santoni delivered back-to-back RBI singles. Kayla Reed's single loaded the bases for Paige Stuck, whose sacrifice fly gave the Flames a 7-1 lead over the Defenders (17-22, 6-6).

Ella Watts then doubled to center to bring in two more runs. Shaylynn Campbell followed with an RBI single for a 10-1 lead. Perez singled to bring up Kosmicki, who ripped her second homer of the contest, a three-run shot, for a 13-1 advantage.

"Obviously an excellent game from Amber Kosmicki, with two big home runs and also two big plays at first base for us,'' Bray said.

Garcia pitched the first four innings for the win, allowing six hits and two earned runs while striking out one and walking none. Victoria Placzek worked a perfect fifth to give CSM the abbreviated victory.

"We also really played well defensively, and I thought Megan and Tori pitched well,'' Bray said. "We're finally putting all three pieces together at the same time.''

Watts finished the second game 2 for 2 with three RBIs, while Perez and Santoni were both 2 for 2 with an RBI.

In the opener, CSM couldn't solve Chloe Kreuz, who allowed four hits and one earned run in a complete-game performance.

"We were too timid at the plate,'' Bray said.

Stuck had a pinch-hit, RBI double in the fourth inning to score Haley Anderson, but that was the only Flames offense.

Bray praised the defensive work by Makenna Earnest at first base and the pitching of Campbell, who went the distance and surrendered eight hits and four earned runs.

The Flames turned things around dramatically in game two.

"We're happy to get a split against Dordt,'' Bray said. "Now we have to go to Hastings and try to get two and just keep this rolling.''

The Flames travel to Hastings College for another GPAC doubleheader on Saturday, with game times set for 1 p.m. and 3 p.m.

*On Suicide Prevention Awareness Day, CSM sophomore Claire Koile, a Valley, Neb., native, gave an emotional pregame speech about the importance of mental health and having the confidence to speak with teammates, coaches, family members and faculty members when facing struggles.