Kearney, Neb. – The Nebraska-Kearney softball team left Thursday for the annual Kelly Laas Memorial Invite at St. Cloud State.

The four-day tournament is held inside the Husky Dome and features teams from the MIAA and NSIC (Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference).

UNK (2-6) will face defending national champion and top-ranked Minnesota State (4-0), the host Huskies (5-1), Sioux Falls (0-0) and Augustana (2-4). The Lopers play the host Huskies and USF Cougars on Friday, the MSU Mavericks on Saturday morning and the AU Vikings in a double header Saturday night. Check the softball schedule page for media links.

Last year at this tournament, UNK was swept by both SCSU (9-1 and 7-4) and AU (4-1 and 12-2) and then dropped single games to USF, 7-3, and Mankato, 2-0. The Lopers did beat St. Cloud, 8-3, last March in Missouri.

Currently, junior first baseman Cheyenne Hamilton (Frederick, Colo.) and freshman catcher/second baseman Karlee Arnold (Parker, Colo.) are both batting .400 and have knocked in 11 of UNK's 29 runs. The pair have also combined for nine walks, six doubles and a homer.

In the circle, five Lopers have already thrown with Missouri freshman Sarah Handrahan (14.2) and Colorado senior Meg Housholder (12.1) leading in innings.
 
Weather permitting, UNK heads to Missouri Southern State next weekend for the annual Teri Mathis-Zenner Memorial Invite.