ST. GEORGE, Utah — The Gaels had a rough start to the St. George Red Desert Classic as they dropped both ends of Friday's doubleheader against CSU Bakersfield and Utah Valley.

Game 1
CSU Bakersfield 7, Saint Mary's 4

HOW IT HAPPENED
After the Roadrunners (7-7) put a four spot up in the first inning, Saint Mary's responded with a run of their own in the bottom of the frame as Bailey Lotz drove in Kalissa Heihn with an RBI single up the middle. In the next inning, Abbey Mariani cut the deficit to just one with a base knock to right field that drove in two more.

Jaymee Campbell homered in the third inning but Bakersfield managed to tack on three more runs to ultimately take the contest.

Saint Mary's had plenty of baserunners in the game with eight hits and six walks in the game. Lotz had a strong offensive performance, going 3-for-4 at the dish with an RBI. Heihn also reached base three times in the contest and came around to score twice.

Eryn McCoy threw 6.2 innings in relief and struck out eight.

Game 2
Utah Valley 4, Saint Mary's 3

HOW IT HAPPENED
Julia McCormack got the Gaels on the board in the top of the second with a two-run jack to right center that put Saint Mary's up 2-1. After the Wolverines (4-8) retook the lead in the bottom of the third, 3-2, Campbell stroked a single to left to tie the game. UVU's Brianna Moeller ended up being the hero for her team with a solo homer in the bottom of the sixth to give Utah Valley a 4-3 lead.

Eileen Perez took a tough loss as she threw a complete game while surrendering only five hits and striking out five.

McCormack led the Gaels by going 2-for-3 with a double, homer and two runs batted in. As a team, Saint Mary's struck out just twice.

UP NEXT: DAY 2

• The Gaels return to the field tomorrow with a single game against Utah State beginning at 2:30 p.m.. Live stats for the game can be found on the team's schedule page.