ST. PETER, Minn. – The Macalester College softball team won the first game, 6-2 before losing in Game 2, 3-0 in a MIAC doubleheader at Gustavus Saturday afternoon at the Gustie Softball Field. The Scots are now 6-8 in the conference and overall, while the Gusties are now 10-14, 5-11 MIAC.

Macalester opened the scoring in Game 1 in the top of the first inning. First year Jessica Katzin (Chicago, Ill./Jones College Prep) hit a two-out single and scored on a single by junior Mackenzie Clarke (Redwood City, Calif./Sequoia) for a 1-0 lead. Then in the second, senior Audrey Meade (Cedar Hills, Utah/Pleasant Grove) delivered a two-out, two-run single that plated fellow seniors Kate Lawhead (Battle Ground, Wash./Prairie) and Kennedy Kechely (Rochester, Minn./Mayo).

In the top of the fifth, it was Clarke's turn to come up with a two-out hit, as her single brought home Meade and junior Anna Leidner (New York, N.Y./Bronx Science) to give the Scots a 5-0 advantage. Junior Claire McHenry (Seattle, Wash./Seattle Academy) led off the top of the seventh with a triple and scored on a single by Meade for a 6-0 lead. Macalester was two outs away from a shutout before the Gusties loaded the bases and drew two walks to bring home two runs. First year Elsa Church (St. Louis, Mo./Kirkwood) retired the next batter on a flyout to end the game.

Meade went 3-for-4 with a run and three runs batted in. She also pitched five scoreless innings, allowing three hits while walking three and striking out one to earn the win. Kechely was 3-for-3 at the plate, while Clarke had a pair of hits in the victory.

The Scots ran into a tough pitcher in the second game, as Piper Otto held Macalester to no runs on four hits over seven innings. The Scots loaded the bases in the third and had runners in scoring position in the fourth and sixth innings, but were unable to get the key hit. Gustavus pushed a run across in the third and scored twice in the fourth for the only scoring of the game. Church started for Macalester and gave up three runs, two earned, on seven hits over 4 1/3 innings of work. Meade came on in relief and tossed 1 2/3 scoreless innings.

The Scots are scheduled to host No. 25 Saint Benedict on Sunday, April 25 in another MIAC twinbill. The first game starts at 1:00 p.m. at the Macalester Softball Complex.