ST. PAUL, Minn. – The Macalester College softball team closed out its non-conference slate with a split against the University of Northwestern, losing the first game, 1-0 and winning Game 2 by the same score Tuesday afternoon at the Macalester Softball Complex. The Scots will begin MIAC play with an overall record of 12-6, while the Eagles are now 4-10.

Sophomore Sophie Migacz (McHenry, Ill./McHenry West) pitched two strong games for Macalester, allowing just three hits and an unearned run in 14 innings. In the first game, Northwestern's first hit of the game came in the third inning on a single by Mindy Forcier. She moved to second on a sacrifice bunt, then scored on a throwing error during a stolen base attempt. The Scots registered eight hits and had runners in scoring position in six of seven innings. But Eagles' pitcher Abbie Nelson never surrendered the key hit, finishing with a shutout victory. First year Julia Carpenter (Stevensville, Mich./Lakeshore) went 3-for-4 with a stolen base.

In Game 2, Migacz was even better, tossing a one-hit shutout while walking two and striking out six in seven innings. Macalester's lone run of the day came in the bottom of the fifth, when Carpenter scored from second on a single by sophomore Claire O'Connor (Piedmont, Calif./Piedmont). First year Kai Perket (San Diego, Calif./Francis W. Parker) had two of the Scots' eight hits in the second game.

Macalester opens its conference schedule with a twinbill against Augsburg College on Saturday, Apr. 1, beginning at 1:00 p.m. at the Macalester Softball Complex.