DULUTH, Minn. – The Macalester College softball team battled back from a 7-0 deficit to win the first game, 11-10, then cruised to a 9-1 victory in Game 2 behind the pitching of first year Tess Bojorquez (San Clemente, Calif./San Clemente) to sweep St. Scholastica in a MIAC doubleheader Sunday afternoon at Kenwood Field. The Scots are now 24-10 overall and 11-5 in the conference, while the Saints fall to 5-25, 2-14 MIAC.

In the first game, St. Scholastica scored five runs in the second inning, including a three-run home run by Aislind Dail, and tacked on two more runs in the third for a commanding 7-0 lead. In the top of the fourth, first year Alli Johnson (Waukee, Iowa/Northwest) doubled home senior Emily Pedersen (Hutchinson, Minn./Hutchinson) and later scored on an error to make the score 7-2. The Scots finally broke through in the top of the fifth with seven runs on seven hits to take a 9-7 lead. Bojorquez, senior Elsa Church (St. Louis, Mo./Kirkwood) and junior Renee Nicholson (Downers Grove, Ill./Downers Grove South) each delivered two-run singles, while Pedersen hit a sacrifice fly to plate junior Sophie Futchko (Prince Frederick, Md./Huntingtown).

But that wasn't enough to put the Saints away, as the hosts came back with three runs in the bottom of the fifth, including a two-run single by Dail, for a 10-9 edge. Pedersen led off the top of the sixth with a double, advanced to third on a groundout and came home on Johnson's double to tie the score at 10-10. Johnson moved to third on an error and senior Mandy Morrical (Mount Vernon, Iowa/Mount Vernon) drove her in with a single for an 11-10 lead. St. Scholastica put runners in scoring position in each of the final two innings but did not score, as Macalester survived Game 1, 11-10. Nicholson went 3-for-5 with a run and two RBIs, while Pedersen, Johnson and Morrical had two hits apiece. First year Rileigh Morlock (Lincoln, Ill./Normal Community West) earned the win, allowing six runs on eight hits while walking one and striking out four in 4 2/3 innings.

Macalester started better in Game 2 with four runs in the top of the second inning. Futchko hit a two-run single to score Bojorquez and first year Callia Holland (Akron, Ohio/Hawken), Church came home on a wild pitch and Futchko and Nicholson executed a double steal that allowed Futchko to score. In the top of the fourth, Futchko hit another two-run single, driving home Church and Bojorquez for a 6-0 lead. The Scots continued to hit well into the sixth inning, as first year Elizabeth Welch (Carol Stream, Ill./Glenbard North) singled to bring home Futchko and Church, and Pedersen doubled to plate first year Monica Montoya (Blue Island, Ill./Dwight D. Eisenhower) for a 9-0 lead.

But this game belonged to Bojorquez, who had a perfect game through 5 1/3 innings. After retiring the first batter in the bottom of the sixth, Bojorquez surrendered the first hit of the game, with Jadyn Lind hitting a single. The Saints ended up scoring a run in the sixth to also end the shutout bid, but Bojorquez induced a groundout with the bases loaded to end the game. She allowed one run on two hits while striking out three and walking none over six innings of work. Futchko was 2-for-4 with two runs and four RBIs, while Welch and Pedersen each had two hits.

Macalester returns home to face Saint Mary's University on Tuesday, April 23 for another MIAC doubleheader. The first pitch is scheduled for 4:30 p.m. at the Macalester Softball Complex.