NORTHFIELD, Minn. – The Macalester College softball team lost twice on the road to St. Olaf, 13-6 and 7-1 in a MIAC doubleheader Thursday afternoon at Mabel Shirley Field. The Scots (14-22) are a game out of sixth place for the final spot in the MIAC Playoffs with an 8-12 mark in conference play. The Oles improve to 20-16, 15-3 MIAC to remain in third place in the conference standings.

Macalester started well in the first game with three runs in the top of the first inning. Consecutive singles by sophomore Elsa Church (St. Louis, Mo./Kirkland), senior Mackenzie Clarke (Redwood City, Calif./Sequoia) and junior Regan Brodine (Pittsburgh, Pa./North Allegheny) produced the first run, then an infield single by first year Renee Nicholson (Downers Grove, Ill./Downers Grove South) plated Clarke and Brodine for a 3-0 lead. After St. Olaf scored a run in the bottom of the first, Clarke doubled home Church and later scored on a single by Brodine in the top of the second to lead 5-1.

The Oles put four runs on the board in the bottom of the third to tie the score at 5-5. In the top of the fourth, Clarke hit another RBI double to score first year Sophie Futchko (Prince Frederick, Md./Huntingtown) and put the Scots on top, 6-5. The lead didn't last long, as St. Olaf scored eight runs over the final three innings to win, 13-6. Clarke went 3-for-4 with two doubles and two RBIs, while Brodine and junior Jessica Katzin (Chicago, Ill./Jones College Prep) had two hits apiece.

In the second game, St. Olaf scored two runs in the second inning, two in the fifth and three in the sixth while holding Macalester scoreless over the first six innings. In the top of the seventh, sophomore Emily Pedersen (Hutchinson, Minn./Hutchinson), Futchko and Church hit singles, with Church's hit driving home Pedersen to make the score 7-1. That is all the offense the Scots would generate, as the Oles closed out the sweep. Futchko led the offense with two hits, as Macalester was held to five total hits in Game 2.

The Scots wrap up the regular season with two games against Carleton on Sunday, May 1. The team will celebrate its seniors as a part of Senior Day. The first game starts at 1:00 p.m. at the Macalester Softball Complex.