DENTON, Texas -- North Texas used a 5-run fifth inning to blow open a tight game as the Mean Green defeated Louisiana Tech 8-2 Thursday night at Lovelace Stadium in the first game of the Conference USA series.

Trailing 3-2 after plating a run in the top of the fifth, the Lady Techsters (27-16, 7-6) surrendered five runs in the bottom of the frame as North Texas capitalized on two home runs and a two-run double in the inning.

"We are still learning from our mistakes," said Tech head coach Josh Taylor. "And sometimes that's the only way to learn. It's the hardest, but sometimes its the best. The first three runs we surrendered came because of miscommunication mistakes defensively. And you can't give championship caliber teams extra outs. And then offensively, I thought we were not very good tonight. I didn't see the quality at bats outside of about five or six that we have been getting. The good news is its just one game, and we come right back tomorrow and have another chance."

Tech took an ealry 1-0 lead in the first as Sierra Sacco singled, stole second and then scored on Brooke Diaz's RBI hit up the middle. Tech loaded the bases with two outs, but a ground out ended the threat.

North Texas scored one in the second and two more in the third to take a 3-1 advantage. Tech scratched for a run in the fifth as Sacco and Amanda Gonzalez led the frame off with back-to-back singles and then Sacco scored on a two-out error by the Mean Green.

Sacco was 3-for-4 at the plate with two runs scored while Gonzalez added two hits and Diaz one.

Audrey Pickett (18-5) took the loss in the circle, allowing eight runs on 10 hits and no walks in 4.1 innings of action. Lauren Menzina retired all five batters she faced in the game.

Game two of the series is Friday at 6 p.m. on ESPN+.