Kearney, Neb. – The Nebraska-Kearney softball team starts the 2019 season this Friday with four games at the annual Kelly Laas Memorial Invite inside the Husky Dome in St. Cloud, Minn.  

The Lopers will face host St. Cloud State and Concordia-St. Paul on Friday and Concordia and Minnesota State-Mankato Saturday. Check the softball schedule page for estimated first pitch times and media links.

In this tournament for a 10th straight year (2010 and 2013 canceled due to weather), UNK comes into the "spring" with a veteran roster. Nearly everyone returns off last year's 16-29 (11-15 MIAA) squad that finished 10th in the league despite having just eight true home games.

The Lopers finished up 2018 with a .307 batting average, 58 doubles, 20 home runs and 184 RBI's. Averaging five runs per game, UNK had five honorable mention All-MIAA players and won 13 games away from Dryden and Patriot Parks.

Junior outfielder Lex Ray (Platte City, Mo.) led UNK in average (.384), hits (56) and triples (five) with senior third baseman Cheyenne Hamilton (Fredrick, Colo.) tops in most of the power categories; 13 doubles, seven homers and 34 RBI's. Next, two-year starters Alexis Howe (Papillion-LaVista) and Sara Sempek (Papillion-LaVista) both batted over .330 and combined to knock in 50 runs.

UNK must replace senior pitcher Meg Housholder (8-6, 2.64 ERA, 79.2 innings). Junior Erin Hallman (Lakewood, Colo.) won five games and threw a team-best 89.2 innings in 2018 with sophomore Sarah Handrahan (Festus, Mo.) logging 62.0 innings. Finally, 11 new options dot the roster in the form of seven true freshmen and four redshirt freshmen.

The Lopers are off the weekend of February 8-10; they head Arkansas for the annual 8-State Classic Feb. 15-17.


St. Cloud State Huskies
2018 Record: 35-19 (20-10 NSIC)
2019 Preseason NSIC Poll: 6th out of 16
Top Returning Player: #22 Kate Kopeck (Sr., P, 2019 NSIC Players to Watch team)

Concordia-St. Paul Golden Bears
2018 Record: 30-24 (13-15 NSIC)
2019 Preseason NSIC Poll: 7th out of 16
Top Returning Players: #20 Carlie Hart (Sr., OF, 2019 NSIC Players to Watch team); #23 Kali Kaestner (Jr., P, 2019 NSIC Players to Watch team)

Minnesota State-Mankato Mavericks
2018 Record: 35-18 (14-10 NSIC)
2019 Preseason NSIC Poll: 3rd out of 16
Top Returning Player: #2 Carly Esselman (Jr., OF, 2019 NSIC Players to Watch team); #17 Mackenzie Ward (So., 2019 NSIC Players to Watch team)