OMAHA, Neb. – With a strong wind blowing out to right-center field on Friday, it was a hitter's paradise at the College of Saint Mary field in its Great Plains Athletic Conference home softball doubleheader with Dakota Wesleyan University.

It added up to wild opening game that featured a little bit of everything. The Flames staged a furious rally in the bottom of the seventh, scoring six runs to send the game into extra innings tied at 18-all.

However, DWU scored in the top of the eighth to hold off CSM 19-18, then completed the sweep with an 8-0 win in six innings to improve to 22-11 overall and 5-1 in the GPAC.

The chaos started even before the first pitch of the opener.

"Six minutes before game time we had to make a pitching change due to an injury,'' CSM Coach Carolyn Todd Bray said. "Our team handled the switch as best as we could, but DWU took advantage and went ahead early.

"I was so proud of our team to battle back and force extra innings. A couple small mistakes hurt us and we didn't get the win, but it was really impressive to see us fight.''

In the bottom of the seventh, CSM (5-17, 1-5) scored all six of its runs after two were out. Victoria Placzek had an RBI double and then Haley Anderson singled her to third. Ella Christensen followed with an RBI single, and then Kayla Kitman smacked an RBI double to make it 18-15. Kayla Reed beat out an RBI infield single to cut it to 18-16.

That brought up Ella Watts, who hammered the game-tying, two-run double to cap the dramatic rally.

"We had hits from every spot in our lineup and so many people contributed!'' Bray said.

CSM outhit DWU 24-22 in the opener. Watts finished 4 for 6 with three RBIs, while Placzek was 3 for 6 with three RBIs and Anderson went 3 for 5 with the RBI. Reed ended 3 for 5 with two RBIs. Perez finished 2 for 3 with three RBIs, while Kitzman was 2 for 2 with two RBIs and Shaylynn Campbell also was 2 for 2. Christensen was 2 for 5 with an RBI and Kynzee McFadden was 2 for 6 with an RBI.

McFadden gamely pitched the entire way and nearly was rewarded with the victory for her efforts in the difficult conditions.

"Kynzee pitched great, especially with no notice that she was starting,'' Bray said. "It was a great response from a freshman!''

In game two, the Tigers went ahead 7-0 after three innings and coasted home.

"The second game got away from us,'' Bray said. "Ally (Allyson Lynch) and Tori (Placzek) both gave us a great effort on the mound. We swung the bats pretty well all day.''

Watts went 2 for 3 in game two to complete a 6-for-9 day.

CSM is right back in action on Saturday with home GPAC doubleheader against Morningside University. The times have been changed to 2 and 4 p.m.