BATON ROUGE, La. — Sam Houston State split a pair of games on the opening day of LSU's Purple and Gold Challenge at Tiger Park Friday.

The Bearkats started the day with a bang in the first game, plating five runs off six hits in the win over Belmont.

Sam Houston State ran into trouble against No. 6 LSU to fall to 5-8 on the season.

Game 1 • Sam Houston State 5, Belmont 2
In the first game of the day, senior Megan McDonald started the ballgame off with a walk, later scoring after a wild pitch.

Sophomore Regan Dunn started the game in the circle, going 2 1/3 innings before coming out. Dunn struggled, walking eight batters which lead to Belmont's only two runs of the  game in the bottom of the first.

The winning pitcher, junior Darby Fitzpatrick (2-1), came into the game when the Bearkats were down 2-1. She pitched 2 2/3 innings, striking out two before giving the ball up to junior Annie Bailey in the bottom of the sixth inning. Bailey pitched two innings, with no hits and one strikeout.

The Bearkats regained, and maintained, their lead in the top of the second, after an error led to sophomore Kyndal Kutac hitting a two-run shot to center field.

The Bearkats plated two more runs in the top of the seventh after a trio of hits, a single from McDonald, a triple from freshman Emily Grill and a double from senior Tiffany Thompson, sealing the deal for the Bearkats to get the win. 

Game 2 • Sam Houston State 0, No. 6 LSU 12 (5 innings)
The Bearkats couldn't get anything going in their matchup against No. 6 LSU Friday evening.

Senior pitcher Karina Sanchez was given the start in the circle but would only go a couple innings after LSU's explosive offensive led 8-0 in the second. Annie Bailey came in, in the second inning, going three frames with five hits and five runs.

The Tiger's pitcher Shelby Wickersham shut the Bearkat offense down, fanning six  on her way to a no-hitter.

Sam Houston State returns to action in day two of the LSU Purple and Gold Challenge, taking on Belmont at noon and LSU at 2:30 p.m.