HUNTSVILLE — The Sam Houston State softball team earned a split on the second day of the Bearkat Invitational Saturday.
 
The Bearkats (9-11) scored five runs in the second inning thanks to RBI hits by junior Kayte Martinez, senior Tiffany Thompson and junior Sheridan Fisher, and four in the fourth highlighted by a three-run home run by junior Brooke Maila to beat Louisiana Tech in the nightcap.
 
Early in the day, North Dakota State scored four runs in the first inning to hand SHSU its only loss of the tournament through two days.
 
Game 1 • North Dakota State 4, Sam Houston State 1
A four-run first inning was too much for the Sam Houston State to overcome in a 4-1 loss to North Dakota State Saturday morning.
 
The Bison had four hits and two walks off starting pitcher Regan Dunn (2-3) to plate all of their runs in the first. Dunn lasted just 2/3 of an inning.
 
Junior Darby Fitzpatrick come into the circle in relief and shut down NDSU for 6 1/3 innings, allowing only three hits, but the Bearkats could not muster any runs until the seventh despite collecting six hits.
 
Freshman Ellie Grill led off the seventh with a double and came around to score on a two-out single by senior Megan McDonald.
 
McDonald led the Kats at the plate, going 2 for 4. Grill, junior Sheridan Fisher, sophomore Kyndal Kutac and junior Madilyn Weatherly all hit safely for SHSU.
 
Game 2 • Sam Houston State 11, Louisiana Tech 4
The Bearkats erupted for five runs in the second inning and four more in the fourth en route to an 11-4 victory over Louisiana Tech.
 
Sophomore Kyndal Kutac singled to begin the second, and freshman Emily Telg reached on a throwing error to give the SHSU two on with no outs. The runners advanced on a wild pitch and junior Annie Bailey walked to load the bases.
 
SHSU got two runs on the board when junior Kayte Martinez hit an RBI infield single, and Telg scored on a throwing error by the pitcher. Junior Sheridan Fisher ripped a two-run double to left-center field, and senior Tiffany Thompson followed with an RBI double to right-center field to make it 5-1.
 
After the Lady Techsters scored two more runs in the third, Telg launched a solo home run to left field, her second of the season put the Kats up 6-3.
 
Junior Brooke Malia blasted a three-run home run in the fourth, her second of the season, to increase the lead to 10-4 after senior Hunter Ervin hit an RBI single to bring in senior Megan McDonald, who singled to begin the frame.
 
The Bearkats' final run came on an RBI double by Thompson in the fifth.
 
Junior Annie Bailey was solid in the circle for the Kats. She gave up two earned runs on five hits in seven innings to improve to 1-2 on the season.