Box Score 1 | Box Score 2 Kearney, Neb. – The Nebraska Kearney softball team fell to Arkansas Monticello, 8-4, and Minnesota-Duluth, 13-1, Friday afternoon in Bentonville, Ark.

The games were part of the 8-State Classic and the season-opening games for the Lopers.

UNK grabbed a 4-0 lead after two innings on the strength of homers by Blair junior Kate Ruwe and Lincoln sophomore Amanada Dunn. However, the Cotton Blossoms scored three in the third, two in the fourth and three more in the sixth to come back and win.

Senior Katie Slaughter went the distance to earn the win, allowing four earned on seven hits and a walk. She struck out six and shut out UNK over the final five innings.

Besides the homers, Elmwood junior catcher Erin Dwyer went 2 for 3 with a run.

In the second game, UMD scored four runs in the fifth and six more in the sixth to blow open a close game. The bottom of the Bulldog order provided eight hits and six RBI's with Sam Hartmann throwing a complete game six-hitter.

Arizona junior Rebecca Wyatt, UNK's leadoff hitter, went 2 for 3 with a run scored.

The Lopers play two more games Saturday and, weather permitting, two more on Sunday.