ST. CLOUD, Minn. – University of Sioux Falls Softball split a doubleheader on their first day of the Kelly Laas Memorial Tournament in St. Cloud. The Cougars (1-1) rallied with three runs in the sixth inning to defeat Missouri Western in their season opener, but they dropped a 10-4 decision to Nebraska-Kearney in their second game.
 
Sioux Falls 4, MWSU 2
Junior right-hander Kerrigan Hoshaw earned the start for USF and she tossed five innings, allowing two earned runs on five hits while striking out two. After surrendering a run in the top of the first, Hoshaw threw three straight scoreless frames.
 
The Cougars knotted the game at 1-1 on Lindsey Mossman's sacrifice fly that drove in Jasmine Ragusi in the bottom of the fourth. The Griffons (3-12) retook to the lead with an RBI single in the fifth inning and sophomore Courtney Mathews came on to replace Hoshaw in the circle in the top of the sixth.
 
After falling behind by a run again, two newcomers stepped up for USF. Emmie Uitts drove in the game-tying run in the bottom of the sixth, scoring Ashley Meyer on a double to centerfield. Emily Miller then plated the go-ahead run with a single through the left side that scored Emily Hove. Adding one run for insurance, Uitts scored on a wild pitch to give the Cougars three runs in the bottom of the sixth and a 4-2 lead.
 
With a lead, Mathews wasted no time earning her first win of the year. She allowed one hit in the seventh, the only hit she gave up in two innings of work, and retired the final two outs to give the Cougars a win in the season opener.
 
Nebraska-Kearney 10, Sioux Falls 4
Nebraska-Kearney scored five runs in the third inning then added four in the fifth, which proved to be too much for USF to overcome in their 10-4 loss to the Lopers. 

Sophomore Sydney Nieveen was saddled with her first career loss, allowing five unearned runs in two and a third innings of work in her first career start at USF. 

USF scored first, plating a run in the bottom of the second inning. Francesca Mickelson doubled to lead off and Emily Hove singled in her teammate in the next at-bat. 

USF's lead was short-lived as an error extended Nebraska-Kearney's time at the plate and the Lopers capitalized with five unearned runs. After scoreless third- and four-inning at-bats, UNK added to their lead with four runs on a pair of hits in the top of the fifth.

The Cougars responded in the bottom half of the inning, scoring three times to cut the lead to 9-4. With two outs, an error pushed Ashley Meyer into scoring position after she led off with a single. Emily Miller drove her in with a single and Jasmine Ragusi followed with a two-RBI double. 

Nebraska Kearney added another unearned run in the seventh inning, pushing the final score to 10-4.