OMAHA, Neb. – Despite belting 21 hits on the day, the College of Saint Mary softball team wasn't able to knock off league-leading Northwestern College.

The Raiders defeated CSM 10-5 and 12-8 in the Great Plains Athletic Conference doubleheader. Northwestern was ranked No. 12 in the country in the most recent NAIA Top 25 poll.

"Northwestern is having a great season," CSM Coach Carolyn Todd Bray said. "I thought we really hit well today. We crushed three home runs and added four doubles besides our 14 singles today.

"But defensively we struggled. And that's what Northwestern does to teams. We practiced and prepared for the scout, but we still had 10 errors on the day. It's tough to beat anyone with that many errors, let alone one of the top teams in the country."

Northwestern is now 15-1 in the GPAC and 40-3 overall. CSM drops to 2-14, 5-33.

Megan Garcia pitched the entire first game. She surrendered 12 hits, didn't walk any and struck out seven.

The Flames got two home runs and a double from Macy Homes as the senior went 3-for-4 with four RBI.

"It's good to have Macy back to playing some of her best softball," Bray said. "She missed 11 games with a concussion and we missed her during that time. Having her bat in our lineup just gives us a threat for a long ball every time she's at the plate."

Teammates Daisy Lowther and Morgan Ethen also had doubles for CSM. Garcia and Kaela Persico both chipped in with two hits each, while Izzy Monzon also had a hit.

In the second game, Lowther took the loss. She gave up 10 hits in 5 1/3 innings. She walked two and fanned one. Kymber Shallenberger came on in relief and pitched an inning. She allowed three hits. Mickayla Larsen finished the game in the circle for CSM. She pitched 2/3 and gave up two hits and struck out one.

Savannah Schewe led the Flames offensively as she went 3-for-4 with a double. Garcia added another two hits in this game and Lowther crushed a home run. Other singles came from Monzon, Homes, Persico, Larsen and Taylor Hrabik.

The Flames resume action Monday with a 3 p.m. doubleheader vs. Dordt University. The games were originally scheduled for Saturday but have been moved because of the forecast.