MINNEAPOLIS, Minn. – The Macalester College softball team used solid pitching to bounce back after a loss and earn a split at Augsburg University in the first MIAC doubleheader of the season Wednesday at Edor Nelson Field. The Scots, who lost the first game, 10-2 before winning Game 2, 4-1, are now 9-9 overall and 1-1 in conference play. The Auggies are now 15-7 overall, 1-3 MIAC.

In the first game, Macalester scored a run in the top of the third inning on a pair of walks, a wild pitch and a passed ball to lead 1-0. Augsburg broke through in the bottom of the fourth with four runs for a 4-1 advantage. In the top of the sixth, senior Emily Bergin (Houston, Texas/St. Thomas Episcopal School) led off with a walk, advanced to third on a passed ball and a wild pitch, and scored on a wild pitch to make the score 4-2. In the bottom of the sixth, Augsburg tallied six runs on four hits and four walks to end the game, 10-2. The Scots did not register a hit against Brynn Hostettler, who walked 10 batters and struck out 12 for her second career no-hitter.

Macalester came back strong in the second game, scoring three runs in the third and another in the fifth to lead 4-0. Sophomores Renee Nicholson (Downers Grove, Ill./Downers Grove South) and Sophie Futchko (Prince Frederick, Md./Huntingtown) led off the third with back-to-back singles. After junior Elsa Church (St. Louis, Mo./Kirkwood) walked to load the bases, Nicholson came home on a grounder by Bergin. Later in the inning, Bergin and senior Jessica Katzin (Chicago, Ill./Jones College Prep) scored on a throwing error for a 3-0 lead. In the fifth inning, Bergin hit a one-out double and scored on a single by Katzin. Through five innings, first year pitcher Kara Jensen (Elmhurst, Ill./York) was perfect, retiring all 15 Auggie batters in order. Augsburg scored a run on three hits in the sixth and registered a one-out single in the bottom of the seventh. But Jensen induced the next batter to hit a ground ball to senior Regan Brodine (Pittsburgh, Pa./North Allegheny) at second, and Brodine recorded a double play to end the game.

Jensen gave up one run on four hits while striking out four and walking one in seven innings. Bergin and Nicholson had two hits apiece, with Bergin scoring two runs.

Macalester hosts Hamline in the home opener on Saturday, April 8. The games will be played on the turf at Macalester Stadium, with the first pitch at 2:00 p.m.