The Sam Houston State softball program split its first two Southland Conference games at the Bearkat Softball Complex against McNeese State in a 4-2 loss and 3-2 victory.

In the conference opener, the Kats were held hitless until left fielder Amy Pelton doubled in the sixth inning. Sam Houston would take advantage two batters later when leadoff hitter Tayler Gray's sacrifice fly drove home Pelton.

In the seventh, Sam Houston would cut the lead to two with Cecilia Castillo's third homerun of the year in a solo shot to left center. That would be all the Kats could muster offensively in the defeat.

Haley Baros started for the Kats pitching 4.2 innings allowing four runs (three earned) on six hits. Tayler Atkinson was lights out in relief going 2.1 innings only giving up one hit and one walk.

In the second game of the doubleheader, the Bearkats offense picked up where they left off tallying all three of its runs in the first three innings during the 3-2 win.

Gray led off the game with a single and would be brought home three batters later by a Hillary Adams RBI single.

The Kats took advantage of McNeese miscues in the second. After Tori Koerselman led off with a walk and Alyssa Coggins singled, an error would allow Koerselman to come all the way around from second to put the Kats up 2-0.

An inning later, Gray and Collins singled back-to-back placing runners on first and second with one out. Two batters later, Sam Houston executed a double steal and when Cowgirls catcher Ashley Modzelewski attempted to throw out Collins at second, the ball trickled into center field allowing Gray to score the Kats third run of the game.

The Cowgirls would answer with two runs in the top of the fourth but Sam Houston starter Shelby Lancaster would buckle down allowing only two hits the rest of the way. Lancaster's would go seven innings allowing just two runs (one earned) on four hits and two strikeouts.

Sam Houston returns to play Sunday in the series finale against McNeese at 1:00 p.m.