ST. PAUL, Minn. – The Macalester College softball team swept UW-River Falls in a non-conference twin bill that served as the Scots' home opener on Friday at the Macalester Softball Complex. The Scots were down 6-1 in the seventh inning of Game 1 before scoring six runs in a walk-off win, then took the second game, 4-1 to improve to 13-5 on the season. The Falcons are now 13-9.

In the first game, UW-River Falls pushed three runs across on five hits in the top of the third to lead, 3-0. Macalester got on the board in the bottom of the third inning on a sacrifice fly by senior Sophie Futchko (Prince Frederick, Md./Huntingtown) that plated first year Ally Wolf (Valencia, Calif./Valencia). The Falcons added a run in the sixth and scored two more in the seventh while keeping the Scots off the board to lead, 6-1.

In the bottom of the seventh, the comeback started with singles by sophomore Rebecca Heinze (Rosemount, Minn./Prescott) and Wolf. First year Dylan Tapia (Tarzana, Calif./Notre Dame) followed with a double that scored a run, then first year Safiya Butler (St. Louis, Mo./Whitfield School) lined a two-run double to left-centerfield to make the score 6-4. Later in the inning with two runners on base and two out, sophomore Alli Johnson (Waukee, Iowa/Northwest) delivered a two-run double to tie the score at 6-6. That brought up sophomore Callia Holland (Akron, Ohio/Hawken), who blasted a double to left to score Johnson with the game-winning run. Macalester racked up seven hits in the seventh inning to take Game 1, 7-6.

Butler went 3-for-4 with a run and two RBIs, while Wolf, Johnson, Heinze and sophomore Elizabeth Welch (Carol Stream, Ill./Glenbard North) had two hits apiece. Sophomore Tess Bojorquez (San Clemente, Calif./San Clemente) went the distance in the circle, allowing six runs, five earned, on 14 hits with a walk and three strikeouts to earn the win.

Momentum stayed with the Scots into the second game. In the bottom of the second, Johnson singled, stole second and scored on a double by Wolf for a 1-0 lead. Then in the third, Bojorquez singled to plate Futchko and Butler to make the score 3-0. Macalester added a run in the bottom of the fifth, with Futchko hitting a double, advancing to third on a grounder and coming home on a bunt by Bojorquez for a 4-0 advantage. The Falcons scored a run in the top of the seventh and had runners on first and second with two out, but a grounder ended the threat and the game.

Sophomore pitcher Martha Miller (Medford, Wis./Medford) pitched all seven innings, giving up one run on five hits while walking two and striking out five for the victory. Seven different Scots had hits in the win, with Futchko, Holland and Wolf hitting doubles.

Macalester begins MIAC play with a league doubleheader on Wednesday, Apr. 2 against Augsburg. The first pitch is scheduled for 4:30 p.m. at the Macalester Softball Complex.