Box Score 1 | Box Score 2 Kearney, Neb. – Senior center fielder center fielder Beth Johnson went 4 for 4 with three runs and three RBI's to lead the Arkansas-Monticello Cotton Blossoms to an 8-2 win over Nebraska-Kearney at the 8-State Classic Friday afternoon in Bentonville, Ark.
 
Earlier in the day, the Lopers opened the 2014 season with a 12-3 (5 innings) win over the William Jewell (Mo.) Cardinals. Complete statistics aren't yet available for the contest but UNK did register 13 hits in victory.  
 
The tournament hosts, UAM (4-2) beat WJC, 8-0 (6 innings), in the first game it played on Friday.
 
Johnson, from the third spot in the order, had a two-run triple in the first and another three bagger to start the third. She later added a leadoff single in the fifth and an RBI single in a three-run sixth.
 
Senior Courtney Wilson (2-1) threw a complete game four hitter to earn the win. Allowing single runs in the third and fourth innings, she fanned five and walked two.
 
For the Lopers, freshman shortstop Emilee Jonas (Omaha Skutt) had an RBI single in the fourth with junior second baseman Mallory Noakes (Lincoln SW) going 0 for 1 with a sac fly in the third. Finally, leadoff hitter Mackenzie Tomlin (Grand Island) went 1 for 2 with a double and a run scored.
 
UNK takes on Rockhurst (11:30 a.m.) and Minnesota-Duluth (1:30 p.m.) tomorrow.  To see the complete schedule, go to http://uamsports.com/news/2014/2/6/SB_0206143253.aspx