TUCSON, Ariz. – The College of Saint Mary softball team had to wait an extra day, but finally got on dirt Friday.

The Flames lost two games at the Tucson Invitational Games. CSM lost 10-1 to Arizona Christian University and then fell 5-2 to Ottawa University (Arizona). CSM's two games on Thursday were canceled because of snow.

"It was nice to get outside and gain some experience on dirt, grass and open air," CSM Coach Carolyn Todd Bray said. "We did some things really well today and made some real progress in some areas. But we still aren't playing all three areas of the game – hitting, defense and pitching – well at the same time."

Uncharacteristically, the Flames didn't hit well Friday and had just four hits in each game. Bray said the Flames pitched well in both games and defensively looked strong in the second game.

Defensive errors were an issue again in the opening game. CSM had four hits and five errors. Arizona Christian had 10 hits and no errors.

"Arizona Christian is a good team," Bray said. "They've played a ton of games already and all have been outside. They were the better team today.

"There were some positives though. Arizona Christian entered with 30 stolen bases already on the season and only had two against us. Paige Stuck (JR/Bellevue, Neb.) and Savannah Schewe (JR/Elkhorn, Neb.) caught their top base stealer early for a big play."

The Flames scored their lone run in the fifth inning when Morgan Ethen (SR/Omaha, Neb.) led off with a double and Taylor Hrabik (FR/Omaha, Neb.) came in to pinch run. Daisy Lowther (FR/Bennington, Neb.) was hit by a pitch and, after a flyout, Kayla Reed (FR/Albuquerque, NM) belted a double to score Hrabik.

Izzy Monzon (SR/Lincoln, Neb.) and Macy Homes (SR/Wahoo, Neb.) had CSM's other two hits – both singles.

Megan Garcia (SO/Elkhorn, Neb.) was tagged with the loss in the circle. She pitched six innings and was relieved by Kymber Shallenberger (SO/Scottsbluff, Neb.) in the seventh.

In the nightcap, CSM took the early lead with two runs in the first inning. Homes had a single, Kaela Persico (FR/Bellevue, Neb.) walked and Garcia crushed a double to score both.

But that was the only scoring the Flames would do. Ottawa scored two in the bottom of the first, one in the fourth and two in the sixth.

Garcia went 3-for-3 to pace College of Saint Mary.

Lowther took the loss. She pitched 6 1/3. Garcia hurled the final 2/3.

"We played six innings of errorless defense and made some good progress there," Bray said. "We also had two double plays with Schewe, Persico and Sydney Griffin (SO/Lincoln, Neb.) on the first one and then Homes and Persico on the second one.

"It was good to see us play solid defense and play defense like we are capable of. We were right in that game and one or more timely hits could've been the difference."

The Flames are now 2-9 on the season and are off Saturday. CSM returns to action Sunday with three games at the Tucson Invitational Games.