CLERMONT, Fla. – First year Alli Johnson (Waukee, Iowa/Northwest) hit a two-out, bases-loaded walk-off single to give the Macalester College softball team an exciting 7-6 victory over Ripon College in the second game of the day Monday at Hancock Park Ballfields. The Scots, who also beat St. Norbert College, 12-3 earlier this morning, improve to 7-3 on the year and 3-1 on their Spring Break trip to Florida.

In the first game of the day, Macalester pounded out 11 hits and scored a season-best 12 runs in a 12-3 win over St. Norbert (0-3). Junior Renee Nicholson (Downers Grove, Ill./Downers Grove South) went 3-for-3 with two walks and three runs, while junior Sophie Futchko (Prince Frederick, Md./Huntingtown) drove in four runs, including a three-run double in the top of the second. The Scots also scored four runs in the fourth inning and five more in the seventh. Senior Elsa Church (St. Louis, Mo./Kirkwood) and first year Elizabeth Welch (Carol Stream, Ill./Glenbard North) each had two hits. First year Tess Bojorquez (San Clemente, Calif./San Clemente) yielded just one hit over 1 2/3 innings of scoreless relief, while sophomore Maddie Molay (Northbrook, Ill./Glenbrook North) pitched the final three innings and gave up three hits and an unearned run to earn the save. First year Rileigh Morlock (Lincoln, Ill./Normal Community West) started and allowed two runs, one earned, on two hits while striking out three in 2 1/3 innings.

The Scots wrapped up the day with a thriller against Ripon. Macalester struck first in the bottom of the second, with senior Mandy Morrical (Mount Vernon, Iowa/Mount Vernon) leading off with a double and later scoring on a groundout by junior Madeleine Kemper (Sioux Falls, S.D./Lincoln). The Red Hawks answered by scoring three runs in the top of the third to lead, 3-1. In the bottom of the third, senior Emily Pedersen (Hutchinson, Minn./Hutchinson) doubled home Welch to make it a one-run game, 3-2. Still trailing by a run in the bottom of the sixth, the Scots broke through with a two-out, bases-loaded single by Welch. Nicholson and Johnson scored on the hit and Futchko came home when Welch intentionally got into a rundown, as Macalester took a 5-3 lead.

Down to its last at-bat, Ripon tallied three runs in the top of the seventh to not only stay alive but take a 6-5 lead going into the bottom of the seventh. Kayla Cruz hit a pinch-hit, two-out double that scored two runs and put the Red Hawks on top. In the Scots' half of the seventh, Pedersen hit a one-out single but a lineout left Macalester down to its final out. Church drew a walk and Kemper was hit by a pitch, loading the bases for Johnson. Johnson laced a single into left field to drive in Pedersen and Church for the walk-off win.

Johnson went 3-for-4 with a run, two RBIs and a stolen base. Pedersen and Welch each had two hits.

Morlock pitched the final three innings and gave up three runs on four hits while fanning three without a walk. Junior Kaitlyn Pistorius (Parker, Colo./Legend) started and allowed two runs on two hits with three strikeouts and a walk in two innings. Bojorquez also pitched two innings and surrendered a run on two hits with three walks and two strikeouts.

Macalester continues play at THE Spring Games on Tuesday, Mar. 12. The Scots face Meredith College and Susquehanna University beginning at 10:30 a.m. Central at Legends Way Ballfields in Clermont, Fla..