ST. PAUL, Minn. – The Macalester College softball team kicked off the MIAC schedule with a pair of losses to Bethel University, 9-0 and 18-2 Saturday afternoon at the Macalester Softball Complex. The Scots fall to 6-12 on the season, while the Royals are now 13-2.

In the first game, Macalester put runners in scoring position in the first, second and third innings but were unable to deliver the key hit. Bethel pushed four runs across in the top of the second inning, including a three-run home run by Izzy Wilhelm, two more in the third and three in the sixth to win, 9-0. Royals' pitcher Kayla Simacek held the Scots to three hits while striking out three and walking one in five innings. Sophomore Mandy Morrical (Mount Vernon, Iowa/Mount Vernon) and first years Renee Nicholson (Downers Grove, Ill./Downers Grove South) and Sophie Futchko (Prince Frederick, Md./Huntingtown) had the hits for Macalester.

After spotting Bethel a run in the first inning of Game 2, the Scots broke through with a run in the bottom of the second when sophomore Lauren Smith (Hermantown, Minn./Hermantown) came home on a wild pitch. The Royals tallied four more runs in the third before the Scots scored another run in the bottom of the third, with Nicholson coming home on a grounder by senior Mackenzie Clarke (Redwood City, Calif./Sequoia). Bethel scored two runs apiece in the fourth and fifth innings, then put nine runs on the board to lead 18-2. Futchko went 2-for-3 at the plate, while Morrical had the other hit for Macalester.

The Scots continue MIAC play with another home doubleheader against Augsburg on Thursday, April 7. The first game begins at 4:30 p.m. at the Macalester Softball Complex.