OMAHA, Neb. – Briar Cliff University swept College of Saint Mary 3-2 and 11-0 in five innings of Great Plains Athletic Conference softball on Wednesday, losses that were markedly different but equally painful in the league race.

"We had been working really hard to get ourselves into the playoffs, and this is going to make it really hard for us to accomplish that goal,'' CSM Coach Carolyn Todd Bray said.

The Flames dropped to 7-24 overall and 3-11 in GPAC play with eight conference games to go, while BCU improved to 16-24 and 6-10.

CSM put itself in great position to win the opener, carrying a 2-0 lead into the sixth on Amber Kosmicki's booming two-run homer to left in the third inning.

It was just Kosmicki's second game of the season, as she has sat most of the year due to injury. Her first hit of the season gave the team quite a jolt.

"Amber's home run was an absolute blast,'' Bray said. "You knew that was gone right off the bat. She's really been battling back from injury. It was a really cool, emotional moment for the team to see her come through and get the job done. That was awesome.''

After only allowing one hit through five innings, the Chargers finally got to Shaylynn Campbell in the sixth, scoring all three of their runs on four hits.

"We played a great game,'' Bray said. "The difference was they made better adjustments. By the time they saw Shaylynn the third time, they made better adjustments.''

Defensively, Kayla Reed was again the star in center field.

"Kayla made an amazing catch in the third inning, and another great catch in the fifth inning to save us some runs,'' Bray said.

Ella Watts and Kynzee McFadden each went 2 for 3 at the plate, and Watts' day included a triple. Victoria Placzek smacked a double.

CSM also had some misfortune at the plate.

"I did think we had a lot of good, hard hits that were right at people,'' Bray said.

In game two, the Chargers broke it open with a five-run second inning to go in front 6-0. The visitors never looked back.

"This was a disappointing loss for us,'' Bray said. "The positives were Shaylynn got her 100^th career hit, which was a great accomplishment in the middle of your junior season.''

Campbell is now 100 for 324 in her 108-game CSM career, for a .309 average.

"I thought Adelia (Dunlap) did excellent with the sun in left field,'' Bray added. "We just have to find a way to hit better off a pitching staff that's not dominating.''

Watts went 1 for 1 with two walks to complete a 3-for-4 day.

CSM returns to action Friday with a GPAC doubleheader at Dordt University. Game times are 4 and 6 p.m.