NORTHFIELD, Minn. – The Macalester College softball team lost a pair of games to Carleton College, 9-6 and 3-2 in a MIAC doubleheader Thursday afternoon at Ele Hansen Field. The Scots drop to 16-12 overall and 4-6 in the league, while the Knights improve to 12-12, 5-7 MIAC.

Macalester opened Game 1 with a run in the top of the first inning on a run-scoring single by first year Kaela Jackson (Seattle, Wash./James A. Garfield) that plated first year Julia Carpenter (Stevensville, Mich./Lakeshore). Carleton responded by scoring two runs in each of the next three innings to take a 6-1 advantage. Two more Knights' runs in the fifth made the score 8-1.

In the top of the sixth, junior G.G. Gunther (San Francisco, Calif./Lowell) led off with a triple and scored on an error to spark a three-run inning. Sophomore Claire O'Connor (Piedmont, Calif./Piedmont) doubled home Jackson and sophomore Makaya Resner (Missoula, Mont./Loyola Sacred Heart) singled to score junior Morghan Bean (Muscatine, Iowa/Muscatine). After another Carleton run in the sixth, Jackson drove in another run and Carpenter came home on a wild pitch in the seventh to make the score 9-6. Jackson advanced to third with two outs, but a popup ended the game.

Gunther, Jackson and Resner each had two hits for the Scots. Six of Carleton's runs were unearned, as Macalester committed six errors in the loss.

In the second game, the Knights scored a run in the third and two more in the fifth for a 3-0 lead. Jackson continued her productive day with another RBI in the sixth, plating Carpenter with a grounder. Then in the seventh, O'Connor led off with a double, moved to third on a single by senior Nikki Caicedo (Clinton Twp., Mich./Chippewa Valley) and scored on a sacrifice fly from Resner to make the score 3-2 Carleton. The Scots loaded the bases with two outs, but a groundout ended the threat and the game.

Bean pitched all six innings, allowing three runs, one earned, on eight hits while walking three and striking out three. Carpenter and Gunther each had two hits in the second game.

Macalester is scheduled to host Saint Mary's University in another MIAC doubleheader on Friday, Apr. 14. The first game is scheduled to start at 4:30 p.m. at the Macalester Softball Complex.