FOREST CITY, Iowa – Late-game dramatics were in abundance on Sunday as College of Saint Mary and Waldorf University split a Great Plains Athletic Conference softball doubleheader, with the Warriors winning the opener, 6-5, and the Flames rebounding to prevail, 7-6.

"We're happy we got a split, but we thought we should've won both games,'' CSM Coach Carolyn Todd Bray said.

The Flames (8-27 overall, 4-14 GPAC) were in prime position to capture the opener after some clutch, late-inning hits.

Singles from Haley Anderson and Allyson Lynch started things in the top of the sixth, and then Amber Kosmicki came off the bench to deliver a pinch-hit, two-run single and put the visitors ahead, 3-2.

Waldorf tied the game at 3-3. After a Kynzee McFadden double, Anderson slammed her first collegiate home run, a two-run shot, to send the Flames to the bottom of the seventh up 5-3.

With two outs and nobody on, however, Waldorf rallied with three runs for a walk-off, 6-5 victory.

"We struggled with our timing at the plate early on in the first game and really didn't make adjustments until the fifth inning,'' Bray said.

Bray added that Shaylynn Campbell was outstanding in the circle with 10 strikeouts and that catcher Maycee Hays threw out two runners attempting to steal.

Anderson finished 2 for 4 with the two RBI, while nine other Flames had one hit each.

In the second game, CSM took a 5-2 lead in the fifth with a three-run inning. Ella Watts led it off with a solo homer, her third of the season and 12^th of her career. McFadden doubled and then walks to Hays and Makenna Earnest set the table for Kayla Kitzman, who laced a two-run double for the three-run lead.

Waldorf (4-34, 2-16) answered with the next four runs to lead 6-5 heading to the top of the seventh.

But CSM had the final word. Earnest led off with a single and Kitzman sacrificed her to second. Adelia Dunlap delivered an RBI double to tie the game and took third on an error.

Two batters later, Watts singled to score Dunlap with what proved to be the game-winning RBI.

Victoria Placzek retired all five batters she faced in relief of McFadden to get the win.

"In the second game we did much better at the plate,'' Bray said. "Ella had a big homer and was solid in the leadoff spot. Adelia, Makenna and Kayla all had big hits for us. Claire Koile had a great diving catch in the outfield.''

Watts was 4 for 5 in the second game, including the two-run homer. Campbell, Earnest, Kitzman and Dunlap all finished 2 for 3, with Kitzman ending with three RBI as the Flames piled up 14 hits in the win.

CSM is back in action Wednesday in its home finale against Hastings College at 3 and 5 p.m. for Senior Day.