CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. – Amber Storer's two-run homer against host Chattanooga highlighted the opening day of the Chattanooga Challenge.

SIUE fell to 2-5 overall with a pair of losses, dropping a 7-4 decision to Radford and 3-2 to Chattanooga.

The Cougars are back in action Saturday with two more games. SIUE faces Indiana State at 9 a.m. and Northwestern State at 2 p.m.

Storer hit her first home run of the season to break a 0-0 deadlock in the fourth inning. Her blast went over the left field fence after Mia Haynes drew a one-out walk.

"It was a really good at bat," said SIUE Interim Head Coach P.J. Finigan. "We had been scuffling with their pitcher (Brooke Parrott) who was changing speeds well. She got it out through the teeth of the wind."

But Chattanooga, 2-3, chipped away at the lead against SIUE's Sydney Baalman, scoring one run in each of the final three innings. Kailey Snell, who had three hits, doubled home the winning run.

"We got outexecuted offensively," said Finigan. "We really couldn't make up for the slow start in the first game."

In Friday's opener, SIUE yielded home runs to Jordan Moss and Rachel Smith in the first inning.

Haynes, who started game one for the Cougars, regained one run back by herself in the second inning. Her solo home run to center field was one of eight hits for the Cougars.

SIUE outhit Radford 8-5, but the quick start held up for the Highlanders. Emily Spingard threw 4 1/3 innings for the win while Jessie Marvin threw the final eight outs for her first save of the season.

"Sydney and Mia threw better today than the numbers would show," added Finigan.