Box Score 1 | Box Score 2 Kearney, Neb. – The Nebraska-Kearney softball team lost to Sioux Falls, 7-3, and Minnesota State-Mankato, 2-0, Sunday afternoon in St. Cloud, Minn.

These were UNK's final games in the annual Kelly Laas Memorial Invite inside the Husky Dome.

An RBI double and two errors helped Sioux Falls (6-3) score two in the bottom of the second and grab the lead for good. In the bottom of the fourth, the Cougs made it 6-0 as they recorded four of its eight hits. Freshman right fielder Francesca Mickelson (2 for 4) had a two out, two-run double to finish the scoring in the key inning.

UNK tried to comeback, scoring three times in the top of the sixth. Among three hits were RBI singles from California freshman designated player Macey Nelson (2 for 4) and Papillion freshman designated player Sara Sempek.

Finally for the Lopers, Arizona senior second baseman Molly Stern went 2 for 3 and Missouri freshman Mallory Stoner threw two scoreless innings of relief.

Against Mankato (4-0), Sempek threw a complete game three-hitter in her first collegiate start. She allowed two earned on five walks and three singles while fanning three. 

Her counterpart, Libby Bemis, was equal to the task as she struck out seven and threw a complete game one-hit shut out. Working around five walks, she allowed only a single by Ralston senior left fielder Taylre Keenan in the first. 

The Mavericks scored their runs in the first and fifth innings with leadoff hitter McKenzie Paap going 1 for 3 with a run scored and an RBI.

UNK will have six games in three days next weekend at the annual 8-State Classic in Bentonville, Ark.