BATON ROUGE ? The Ohio softball team went 0-2 on the first day of the Purple and Gold Challenge. Ohio dropped an extra-inning duel to Columbia in the early game and No. 12 Louisiana State University got by the Bobcats in the night cap.

Kerri Harley, Candy Warden and Natalie Armstrong held the Lions scoreless through the first seven innings. In the top of the eight Hilary Parsons hit a double scoring the winning run, as Columbia picked up its first win of the season.

In the night cap, No. 12 LSU handed the Bobcats their second loss of the day, with the help of hot swinging Stephanie Hill, who went 3-3 from the plate and drove in four runs. Ohio?s Debbie Szalejko drew a walk in the top of fifth bring Marian Davis to bat. Davis belted a homer off Megan Jolly to get the Bobcats on the board, but the comeback effort fell short as LSU went on to win 10-2.

The Bobcats begin day two of the Purple and Gold Challenge tomorrow at 2:15 p.m., versus host LSU and will follow with Columbia at 4:30 p.m.