DAVENPORT, Iowa – College of Saint Mary got its 2026 softball season started on solid footing Saturday, beating Clarke University 1-0 before dropping a 5-2 decision to St. Ambrose University at the Ambrose Dome.

"Overall, a good day for us,'' CSM Coach Carolyn Todd Bray said. "It was great to win our first game of the season. It was a little extra sweet as a one-run game – something we struggled with last year.''

In the opener, the Flames scored the only run they would need in the fourth inning. Kynzee McFadden doubled, took third on a groundout and scored on catcher Maycee Hays' double.

Pitcher Shaylynn Campbell and her defense took it from there. Campbell fired a seven-hit shutout, striking out five and walking none. CSM cut down runners at the plate in the third and seventh innings to preserve the shutout.

"Shaylynn pitched an amazing game and Maycee was so good behind the plate,'' Bray said. "Our defense was so strong, especially Ella Watts at third. Kayla Reed and Haley Anderson both had big games in the outfield, and we had two relays to the plate for outs that saved us. It's fun to see stuff we are doing in practice be executed on the field. Fun game!''

In game two, CSM took a 2-1 lead into the fifth inning, but the Bees tallied three times in the fifth and one in the sixth to win.

"We did some good things, but this one got away from us,'' Bray said. "They made more timely hits. St. Ambrose is always a good team and we couldn't get the job done.''

The Flames stranded nine and made five errors.

Bray said Reed had an outstanding diving catch in center and that McFadden fared well in her first collegiate outing in the circle.

Watts finished with two of CSM's six hits in game two and drove in a run, while Reed drove in the other run.

CSM returns to action Sunday, facing Cleary (Mich.) University at 10:45 a.m. and Clarke again at 3:15 p.m.