ST. PAUL, Minn. – The Macalester College softball team received strong pitching from first year Kara Jensen (Elmhurst, Ill./York) and an RBI triple from junior Mandy Morrical (Mount Vernon, Iowa/Mount Vernon) to beat St. Scholastica, 2-1 in Game 2 and earn a split of a MIAC doubleheader Sunday afternoon at Macalester Softball Complex. The Scots, who honored their seniors before the game and alumni between games, are now 12-18 overall and 4-10 in league play, while the Saints are now 12-12, 2-6 MIAC.

In the first game, St. Scholastica scored an unearned run in the first inning for an early 1-0 lead. Macalester had a hit in each of the first four innings but were unable to generate any runs. In the bottom of the sixth, loaded the bases with one out on singles by junior Elsa Church (St. Louis, Mo./Kirkwood) and senior Jessica Katzin (Chicago, Ill./Jones College Prep) and a walk by senior Regan Brodine (Pittsburgh, Pa./North Allegheny). But the next batter grounded into a double play, ending the threat. The Saints pushed two insurance runs across in the top of the seventh and allowed a single to senior Emily Bergin (Houston, Texas/St. Thomas Episcopal School) before retiring the Scots in the bottom of the seventh for a 3-0 win.

Katzin finished with two hits in the loss. Sophomore Kaitlyn Pistorius (Parker, Colo./Legend) limited St. Scholastica to three runs, two earned, on seven hits while walking two and striking out three in seven innings.

Runs were hard to come by in the second game, with the score remaining 0-0 until the bottom of the fifth. Sophomore Sophie Futchko (Prince Frederick, Md./Huntingtown) drew a one-out walk and advanced to third on a single by sophomore Renee Nicholson (Downers Grove, Ill./Downers Grove South), who advanced to second on an error. Bergin followed with a grounder that plated Futchko, then Morrical laced a triple to left that brought home Nicholson for a 2-0 lead. That run proved pivotal, as the Saints scored a run in the top of the seventh with two outs. With runners on first and second, first year Kara Jensen (Elmhurst, Ill./York) induced a ground ball that deflected off of Jensen right to Brodine at second. Brodine's throw to first was in time, clinching the win for the Scots.

Jensen was impressive in the circle, allowing one run on four hits while walking two and fanning five over seven innings of work to improve to 4-1 on the season. Nicholson, Morrical and Brodine each recorded two hits in the win.

Before the game, Macalester recognized seniors Bergin, Brodine, Katzin and Gabriella Plisko (Alpharetta, Ga./The Galloway School) as a part of Senior Day. New Macalester Hall of Famer and former softball star Kathryn Miles '00 was honored before the first game as well, with her daughter throwing out the first pitch.

Macalester is scheduled to play at Concordia College on Monday, April 24 in another MIAC doubleheader. The first game begins at 4:00 p.m. in Moorhead, Minn.