ST. PAUL, Minn. – The Macalester College softball team began its MIAC schedule with a split at Augsburg University Wednesday night at Edor Nelson Field. The Scots, who won the first game, 7-0 before losing Game 2 in extra innings, 9-8, are now 12-6 overall and 1-1 in the conference. The Auggies ended the day 16-4 on the season and 1-1 in the MIAC.

In the first game, Macalester took control with three runs in the second inning. Senior Emily Pedersen (Hutchinson, Minn./Hutchinson) singled home first year Alli Johnson (Waukee, Iowa/Northwest), then junior Madeleine Kemper (Sioux Falls, S.D./Lincoln) hit a two-run double to score senior Mandy Morrical (Mount Vernon, Iowa/Mount Vernon) and first year Callia Holland (Akron, Ohio/Hawken). In the fifth, junior Renee Nicholson (Downers Grove, Ill./Downers Grove South), first year Elizabeth Welch (Carol Stream, Ill./Glenbard North) and Johnson each singled in runs for a 6-0 lead. Pedersen's single in the seventh brought home Welch to close out the scoring.

First year pitcher Rileigh Morlock (Lincoln, Ill./Normal Community West) did the rest, limiting Augsburg to four hits and a walk while striking out nine in a complete-game shutout, her second of the season. Welch went 3-for-4 with a double, a run and a run batted in, while Johnson and Pedersen each had two hits.

The Scots' bats stayed hot into the second game, producing eight runs in the second inning alone. Johnson delivered a bases-loaded triple and scored on an error. Holland hit a two-run single, while senior Elsa Church (St. Louis, Mo./Kirkwood) and Morrical also drove in runs. However, the lead didn't last long, as the Auggies responded with seven runs in the bottom of the second and another run in the third to tie the score at 8-8. Neither team scored over the next four innings, and the game went into the eighth inning. The Scots had runners on second and third with two outs but were unable to get the key hit. In the bottom of the eighth with a runner placed on second, Macalester retired the first two batters before a wild pitch moved the runner to third. Olivia Hennager delivered an infield single that was enough to bring home Torrie Rehder for the winning run.

Nicholson, Morrical and junior Sophie Futchko (Prince Frederick, Md./Huntingtown) had two hits apiece to pace the offense. Morlock pitched the final 5 1/3 innings in relief and allowed an unearned run on five hits while fanning five.

The Scots host UW-River Falls in the home opener on Thursday, April 4. The non-conference doubleheader starts at 4:00 p.m. at the Macalester Softball Complex.