OMAHA, Neb. – College of Saint Mary took an early lead, but wasn't able to hang on Wednesday night.

The CSM softball team lost a nonconference game to Bellevue University 8-2 at Roy Smith Field.

The Flames jumped ahead 2-0 in the first inning when Megan Garcia singled and Kaela Persico blasted a two-run homer to center field. But that was all the scoring the Flames would do.

Bellevue scored one run in the first inning, four in the second frame and then one in the fourth, fifth and sixth to secure the win.

"It was great to take an early lead with two big hits right away," CSM Coach Carolyn Todd Bray said. "Unfortunately, we only had two more hits in the rest of the game and couldn't get anything else going offensively."

Garcia added a double later in the contest and teammate Mickayla Larsen also had a double.

The Flames were outhit 12-4 and also committed two errors defensively.

"We got in trouble in the second inning with what I thought was three errors in the infield," Bray said. "If we had made any of those plays we could've gotten out of the inning and instead it snowballed."

CSM threw four pitchers in the game. Garcia suffered the loss. She was relieved by Kymber Shallenberger, Daisy Lowther and Larsen.

"We had talked before the game about getting all of our pitchers in for some work today," Bray said. "It's good to get them all out there in some of these nonconference games to get experience. I thought they all worked hard."

The Flames are 3-19 on the season and travel to Leavenworth, Kansas, Thursday for a nonconference contest vs. University of Saint Mary.

Wednesday's game was an NFCA StrikeOut Cancer event for both teams. The teams raised money for the local Nicki G. Foundation.

"We have a great relationship with Bellevue softball and have done some different events like this in the past," Bray said. "We had a great crowd. It was awesome to have both sides come together for cancer awareness and to raise funds for an excellent organization."