ST. PETER, Minn. – The Macalester College softball team dropped two close MIAC games on the road at Gustavus Adolphus College, 5-3 and 3-2 Thursday afternoon at the Gustie Softball Field. The Scots fall to 20-10 overall and 7-5 in the conference, while the Gusties improve to 16-14, 10-2 MIAC.

Macalester struck first in Game 1, as first year Tess Bojorquez (San Clemente, Calif./San Clemente) doubled to score senior Emily Pedersen (Hutchinson, Minn./Hutchinson) in the top of the second inning for a 1-0 lead. After Gustavus tied the score in the bottom of the third, the Scots regained the lead in the top of the fifth when junior Sophie Futchko (Prince Frederick, Md./Huntingtown) doubled, advanced to third on a wild pitch and came home on an error. The Gusties tied the score with a run in the bottom of the fifth, then pushed three runs across in the sixth for a 5-2 advantage. In the top of the seventh, Futchko doubled with runners on first and third to bring home senior Mandy Morrical (Mount Vernon, Iowa/Mount Vernon) and put runners on second and third with nobody out. But Macalester was unable to move the runners home as Gustavus held on for a 5-3 win. Futchko was 3-for-4 with three doubles, while Bojorquez had two hits.

In the second game, Gustavus scored single runs in the first, second and sixth innings to lead 3-0 heading into the top of the seventh. With one out, first year Alli Johnson (Waukee, Iowa/Northwest) walked, advanced to second on a wild pitch and moved to third on a single by senior Elsa Church (St. Louis, Mo./Kirkwood). After Futchko walked to load the bases, junior Renee Nicholson (Downers Grove, Ill./Downers Grove South) reached on an error that brought home Johnson. First year Elizabeth Welch (Carol Stream, Ill./Glenbard North) hit a ball back to the pitcher that was mishandled, allowing Church to score to make it a one-run game, 3-2. With the bases still loaded, Gustavus pitcher Ava Hamsund struck out the next batter and induced a pop-up to end the game. Bojorquez pitched well, allowing three runs on 11 hits over 5 1/3 innings to keep the game close.

Next up for the Scots in another MIAC doubleheader on Saturday, April 20 against St. Catherine University. The first game is scheduled to start at 1:00 p.m. at the Macalester Softball Complex.