Box Score 1 | Box Score 2 Kearney, Neb. – The Nebraska-Kearney softball team fell to Upper Iowa, 7-3, and 24th-ranked Missouri-St. Louis, 9-0 (6 innings), Sunday afternoon in Bentonville, Ark.

These were UNK's final games of the annual 8-State Classic. The Lopers played six contests over three days.

Upper Iowa (1-5) scored two in the first and five times in the third to record its first win of 2017. A 10-hit attack was led by leadoff hitter Sammy Garrett (3 for 4) with eight-hole hitter Riley Kruel (2 for 3).

The big fifth featured five Peacock hits, including a two-run homer by second baseman Julia Buffington and a Garrett RBI double. On the mound, Courtney Clayberg tossed a complete game seven-hitter. She worked around four walks by fanning two and blanking the Lopers over the first three innings.

Leaving 10 runners on base, UNK was led by freshman leadoff hitter Macey Nelson (2 for 4, one RBI) and Lexington junior infielder Halle Gydesen (2 for 4). Finally, Utah junior Abbey Martin threw three innings of shutout relief.

The UMSL Tritons (11-5) scored six of its runs over the final two innings to bust open a tight game. Eight-hole hitter Erin Walker (2 for 3, two runs & two RBI's) and nine-hole hitter Ryan Logan (2 for 2, four RBI's) provided most of the damage.

A four-run fifth featured back-to-back RBI doubles from Logan and Walker with catcher Serena Olson (3 for 4, two runs) having a two-run triple in the top of the sixth.

Stranded seven runners, the Lopers got four hits from four different players with Colorado junior Meg Housholder and Missouri freshman Mallory Stoner both striking two Tritons out.

UNK is off next weekend before heading to Missouri Southern State for the Lions annual multi-day tournament.