ST. PAUL, Minn. – The Macalester College softball team played its first home games of 2023, taking two from Hamline, 1-0 and 3-2 in a MIAC twinbill Saturday afternoon at Macalester Stadium. The wins give the Scots an 11-9 record overall, including a 3-1 mark in conference play. The Pipers fall to 7-10-1, 1-3 MIAC.

The pitchers dominated the first game, with the teams combining for just seven hits. In the bottom of the third inning, sophomore Renee Nicholson (Downers Grove, Ill./Downers Grove South) led off with a single and stole second. After sophomore Sophie Futchko (Prince Frederick, Md./Huntingtown) drew a walk, junior Elsa Church (St. Louis, Mo./Kirkwood) bunted the runners over to second and third with one out. Senior Emily Bergin (Houston, Texas/St. Thomas Episcopal School) hit a grounder to the shortstop, who threw Nicholson out at home. When Bergin attempted to take second base, Futchko came home during the rundown to get Bergin out. Hamline put a runner on second base in each of the final three innings, including a two-out double by Gabby Tuhy. But sophomore pitcher Kaitlyn Pistorius (Parker, Colo./Legend) retired the final batter on a lineout caught be senior Regan Brodine (Pittsburgh, Pa./North Allegheny) at second to end the game.

Pistorius blanked the Pipers on five hits while striking out one and walking one in a complete-game victory. Nicholson and junior Emily Pedersen (Hutchinson, Minn./Hutchinson) had the only two hits off Hamline pitcher Sophie Stork.

The Scots wasted little time getting on the scoreboard in Game 2, with Futchko, Nicholson and Brodine hitting singles to load the bases with one out in the bottom of the first inning. Futchko scored from third on an error, then Church plated Nicholson with an infield single for a 2-0 lead. The Pipers recorded their first run of the day in the top of the fifth on an RBI single by Gabby Cook. In the bottom of the fifth, Nicholson singled, stole second and came home on a double to right-centerfield by Brodine to make the score 3-1. The insurance run paid off, as Hamline scored a run in the top of the seventh. Pistorius entered the game with one out in the seventh and retired the final two batters to preserve the win and earn her first save of the season.

First year Kara Jensen (Elmhurst, Ill./York) was solid in the circle, allowing one run on six hits while walking two and fanning three in five innings of work. First year Maddie Molay (Northbrook, Ill./Glenbrook North) gave up an unearned run and one hit in 1 1/3 innings of relief. Nicholson, Futchko and Brodine each delivered two hits, with Nicholson scoring two of the Scots' three runs in the win.

Macalester hosts St. Catherine University on Tuesday, April 11 in another MIAC doubleheader. The games start at 4:30 p.m. and will most likely be played on the turf at Macalester Stadium.