ST. PAUL, Minn. – The Macalester College softball team racked up 20 hits but fell to Gustavus twice, 6-2 and 10-7 in a MIAC doubleheader Wednesday afternoon at the Macalester Softball Complex. The results leave the Scots with a 9-15 record overall, including a 3-5 mark in the conference. The Gusties, who tallied 27 hits in the two wins combined, improve to 9-13, 4-4 MIAC.

Both teams scored in their half of the first inning, with senior Mackenzie Clarke (Redwood City, Calif./Sequoia) coming home on an error following a single by junior Jessica Katzin (Chicago, Ill./Jones College Prep). In the second inning, the Gusties put three runs on the board, including two on a home run by Greta Dahlen, for a 4-1 lead. Madelyn Mueller hit a solo home run in the top of the fourth, and Gustavus scored another run in the fifth to make it 6-1 Gusties. In the bottom of the fifth, the Scots loaded the bases with one out for sophomore Mandy Morrical (Mount Vernon, Iowa/Mount Vernon), who brought home first year Renee Nicholson (Downers Grove, Ill./Downers Grove South) with a sacrifice fly. But Macalester was unable to score again the rest of the way.

Clarke went 3-for-4 and Nicholson had two hits to lead the Scots' offense. Sophomore Elsa Church (St. Louis, Mo./Kirkland) pitched two scoreless innings in relief of first year Kaitlyn Pistorius (Parker, Colo./Legend).

Macalester struck first in Game 2, with Clarke hitting a sacrifice fly to plate first year Sophie Futchko (Prince Frederick, Md./Huntingtown), who led off the bottom of the first inning with a double and advanced to third on a groundout. Gustavus answered with three runs in the top of the third, only to have Futchko double home Nicholson and Clarke drive in Futchko with a single to tie the score at 3-3 in the bottom of the third. After the Gusties pushed a run across in the top of the fourth, the Scots responded in the bottom of the fifth. With runners on second and third, Clarke hit an infield single to bring home Nicholson and tie the score again.

In the top of the sixth, Gustavus broke through with six runs on seven hits to take a commanding 10-4 lead. Macalester staged a late comeback in the bottom of the seventh, with Nicholson leading off with a single, Futchko hitting a double and junior Regan Brodine (Pittsburgh, Pa./North Allegheny) singling to score Nicholson. Futchko came home on a groundout by Clarke, and Brodine scored on an error before the final out was recorded to make the score 10-7.

Futchko had a big game at the plate, going 4-for-4 with three doubles, three runs and an RBI. Nicholson went 2-for-2 with a walk and three runs, while Clarke had two hits and four RBIs.

The Scots are scheduled to play a conference doubleheader against Augsburg on Friday, April 15, beginning at 4:30 p.m. at the Macalester Softball Complex. Be sure to check the Macalester Athletics website for schedule changes.