CLERMONT, Fla. – The Macalester College softball team split a pair of games on Thursday at the Hancock Softball Complex, losing to Mount Saint Mary College, 8-4 and defeating Carthage, 5-4. The Scots are now 7-7 overall and 3-5 on their Spring Break trip.

In the loss to Mount Saint Mary, the Knights scored a run in the first inning and two more in the second before putting five runs on the board in the top of the third for a commanding 8-0 lead. Macalester responded in the bottom of the third inning. With runners on first and second and one out, sophomore Renee Nicholson (Downers Grove, Ill./Downers Grove South) singled to load the bases. Sophomore Sophie Futchko (Prince Frederick, Md./Huntingtown) reached on catcher's interference, bringing senior Regan Brodine (Pittsburgh, Pa./North Allegheny) home from third. Senior Jessica Katzin (Chicago, Ill./Jones College Prep) followed with a two-run single to plate Nicholson and junior Mandy Morrical (Mount Vernon, Iowa/Mount Vernon). A grounder by junior Elsa Church (St. Louis, Mo./Kirkwood) brought home Futchko to make the score 8-4. The Scots were unable to get any closer, as the Knights did not allow a hit over the final four innings.

Nicholson, Katzin and Brodine had Macalester's three hits in the loss. Church came in to pitch in the third and gave up five runs, two earned, in that inning but shut out MSM over the final four innings.

Against Carthage, the Scots broke a scoreless tie with three runs in the top of the fourth inning. Brodine singled home Futchko and Katzin, then scored on a double by junior Emily Pedersen (Hutchinson, Minn./Hutchinson) for a 3-0 lead. The Firebirds scored a run in the bottom of the fourth to make the score 3-1. In the top of the seventh, Macalester picked up two big insurance runs. With two out and runners at second and third, senior Emily Bergin (Houston, Texas/St. Thomas Episcopal School) hit a clutch single to centerfield, plating Morrical and junior Cheyenne Woerman (Oswego, Ill./Oswego) to put the Scots up, 5-1. Those runs proved to be the difference, as Carthage scored three runs in the bottom of the seventh after loading the bases with nobody out. But first year pitcher Maddie Molay (Northbrook, Ill./Glenbrook North) retired the final batter to preserve the win.  

First year Kara Jensen (Elmhurst, Ill/York) earned her first collegiate victory, allowing four runs, three earned, while striking out two and walking two in six innings. Molay closed out her third save of the season. Morrical led the bats with two hits.

Macalester wraps up its Spring Break trip on Friday, Mar. 17 with games against Lawrence at 2:00 p.m. and Fredonia at 4:40 p.m. Eastern.