ST. PAUL, Minn. – Runs were hard to come by in a MIAC softball doubleheader between Macalester College and St. Olaf College Sunday afternoon at the Macalester Softball Complex. The Oles (21-15, 12-8 MIAC) won the first game, 2-0 before the Scots took Game 2, 2-1 in extra innings to improve to 24-14 overall and 11-9 in the conference. The Game 2 win clinches a top six finish in the MIAC standings and a berth in the MIAC Playoffs for the second year in a row.

In the first game, Macalester struggled to get anything going against St. Olaf pitcher Roxanne Ring, who held the Scots to one hit and a walk over seven innings. The Oles scored single runs in the fourth and fifth innings, registering three hits in each inning to lead 2-0. Sophomore pitcher Martha Miller (Medford, Wis./Medford) went the distance in the circle for the Scots, allowing two runs on eight hits over seven innings. Senior Madeleine Kemper (Sioux Falls, S.D./Lincoln) had Macalester's lone hit in the third inning.

The Scots were able to score their first run of the day in the first inning of Game 2. Senior Renee Nicholson (Downers Grove, Ill./Downers Grove South) led off with a walk, advanced to third on a bunt by senior Sophie Futchko (Prince Frederick, Md./Huntingtown) and a grounder from sophomore Elizabeth Welch (Carol Stream, Ill./Glenbard North), then scored on a wild pitch for a 1-0 lead. St. Olaf tied the score with a run in the top of the fifth. Both teams put runners in scoring position over the next two innings but neither scored the go-ahead run, sending the game to extra innings.

In the top of the eighth with a runner placed on second via the international tie-breaker, the Oles put runners on second and third with no outs. Sophomore pitcher Tess Bojorquez (San Clemente, Calif./San Clemente) was able to keep St. Olaf from scoring, getting two fly balls and an infield popup to end the inning and the threat. In the bottom of the eighth, Macalester loaded the bases with two walks. Bojorquez stepped up and hit a single over the centerfielder's head, scoring sophomore Alli Johnson (Waukee, Iowa/Northwest) for the walk-off, game-winning run.

Bojorquez pitched all eight innings, limiting St. Olaf to one run on eight hits while walking three and fanning two. First year Dylan Tapia (Tarzana, Calif./Notre Dame) had two of the Scots' four hits off Oles' pitcher Jaelyn Orth, with Nicholson registering the other hit.

Macalester closes the regular season with a MIAC twin bill against St. Scholastica at home on Saturday, May 3. The first game begins at 1:00 p.m. at the Macalester Softball Complex.