JACKSON, Miss. – Saint Louis split two games on opening day of the Jackson State Tournament Thursday, falling 4-0 to Northwestern State before rebounding to edge Jackson State 9-8.

Brianna Lore (1-2) allowed just one earned run, four hits and two walks against Northwestern State, but the Billikens managed just four hits themselves. Mackenzie Peter had two of the safeties, including a double, while Elizabeth Everingham and Emma Buckles collected a single apiece. Lore struck out five.

Northwestern State scored two runs in the third inning and added single markers in the fourth and sixth.

In the Jackson State game, Saint Louis survived a late surge by the Lady Tigers after building a 9-2 lead.

The Billikens (4-3) scored a run in the first on back-to-back two-out doubles by Lindsay Friedman and Everingham. They made it 3-0 in the second on Allie Macfarlane's leadoff home run – her first collegiate round-tripper – and an unearned run scored on a passed ball by Hailey Weavers, who followed Macfarlane with a single.

Jackson State scored a run in the bottom of the second and another in the third, but SLU plated three more unearned runs in between in its half of the third.

Following an error and walks to Breanna Lockette and Weavers, Madeline Brungardt's bases-loaded walk brought home Alyssa Tarquinio with the first run. With two away and the bases still loaded, Lockette and Weavers scored on an error on a pickoff attempt at first base.

The Bills made it 9-2 with three runs – all unearned – in the fourth. Everingham reached on an error leading off and was forced at second by Tarquinio. Lockette walked, and she and Tarquinio moved up on a passed ball.

Macfarlane walked to load the bases, and Tarquinio scored on Weavers' fielder's choice. After a free pass to Brungardt loaded the bases again, Alex Nickel's infield single and Peter's walk brought home the second and third runs of the inning.

Jackson State responded with three runs in the fifth and three more in the seventh, and the Lady Tigers had the bases loaded with two outs in the final frame. But winning pitcher Laney Kneib (1-0), who relieved starter Maddie Baalman in the third inning, got a ground ball to end the threat and preserve the victory.