WINONA, Minn. – Making its first appearance in the semifinals of the MIAC Playoffs in the program's history, the Macalester College softball team saw its record-setting season come to an end with a 9-1 loss to top-seeded Saint Mary's University Saturday afternoon at Saint Mary's Field. The Scots complete their season with a record of 27-15, finishing with the most victories in a season in the history of the program.

The 11th-ranked Cardinals (39-3) went on to defeat Saint Benedict, 5-3 to win their second straight MIAC Playoffs title.

Saint Mary's took control early, scoring two runs in each of the first two innings and adding another in the third for a 5-0 lead. In the top of the sixth, after managing just one base runner to that point, Macalester got on the scoreboard with a solo home run by sophomore Martha Miller (Medford, Wis./Medford), her first of the season. Still in the sixth, seniors Renee Nicholson (Downers Grove, Ill./Downers Grove South) and Sophie Futchko (Prince Frederick, Md./Huntingtown) hit back-to-back singles, putting runners on first and second with one out. But a grounder that the Cardinals turned into a double play ended the threat. Saint Mary's put the game away with four runs in the bottom of the sixth to clinch the win.

Miller started in the circle and gave up five runs, four earned, on six hits in two innings. Sophomore Tess Bojorquez (San Clemente, Calif./San Clemente) allowed four runs on six hits in 3 1/3 innings.

Nicholson went 2-for-3 at the plate to finish her career with 174 hits, which ranks third all-time at Macalester. Futchko totaled 116 runs and 167 hits in her career to rank second and sixth, respectively. Along with fellow senior Madeleine Kemper (Sioux Falls, S.D./Lincoln), the class of 2025 won 82 games, the highest four-year total since the class of 1997 won 86 games.

Macalester, coached by Jody Gabriel, defeated Bethel, 10-2 in five innings on Thursday for the program's first MIAC Playoff victory.

Championship Website

2025 MIAC Softball Playoffs
First round - Thursday, May 8, 2025
Game 1: No. 4 Macalester 10, No. 5 Bethel 2 (5 innings)
Game 2: No. 3 St. Olaf 6, No. 6 St. Catherine 5

Semifinals/Finals - Saturday, May 10, 2025 (at Saint Mary's, Winona, Minn.)
Game 3: No. 1 Saint Mary's 9, No. 4 Macalester 1 (6 innings)
Game 4: No. 2 Saint Benedict 3, No. 3 St. Olaf 2
Game 5: No. 1 Saint Mary's 5, No. 2 Saint Benedict 3