Kearney, Neb. – The Nebraska-Kearney softball lost to defending national champion and current top-ranked Minnesota State, 12-0, and dropped a double header to Augustana, 8-0 and 15-4, Saturday in St. Cloud, Minn.

These games were part of the annual Kelly Laas Memorial Invite inside the Husky Dome. The Lopers (3-10) went 1-4 in the tourney.

The MSU Mavericks, now having won 73 of its last 80 games, scored three runs in each of the first two innings and then tallied a five spot in the top of the fifth. They finished with 13 hits and also took advantage of four walks.

Right fielder Carly Esselman (4 for 4, four runs and two RBI's) and shortstop/catcher Torey Richards (2 for 2, one run and three RBI's) led the Mavs at the plate with Mackenzie Ward improving to 4-0 by allowing three hits and fanning two over four full innings.

UNK got four hits from four different players including sophomore center fielder Alexis Ray (Platte City, Mo.). She also drew two walks. 

The Augustana Vikings (7-4) pounded out 17 hits, including four doubles and three homers, to win the opener 15-4. Four different players had at least three RBI's including second baseman Kylie Rome (2 for 3, three runs and five RBI's). She hit a three-run digger in the third.

UNK saw senior left fielder Meg Housholder (Parker, Colo.) go 1 for 2 with a run and two RBI's with leadoff hitter Macey Nelson (Temecula, Calif.) ending 2 for 3 and a run knocked in.

Finally, catcher Shannon Peterson (3 for 3, three runs and six RBI's) hit two homers, including a Grand Slam, to lead the Vikings in game two. Augie scored its eight runs on just six hits, two walks and two Loper errors.

Ray (2 for 3, one run) again led Kearney

The Lopers head to Missouri Southern State next weekend for its final tournament of the 2018 season.