ST. PAUL, Minn. – The Macalester College softball team earned its first MIAC Playoff win in its first MIAC Playoff home game in the program's history with a 10-2 victory over fifth-seeded Bethel University in five innings in a first-round game Thursday afternoon at the Macalester Softball Complex. The Scots (27-14) also set a program record for wins in a season with 27 while advancing to the semifinals of the MIAC Playoffs for the first time in the 22-year history of the conference playoff system.

Macalester will play top-seeded and 11th-ranked Saint Mary's University in the semifinals on Saturday, May 10 in Winona, Minn.

In the bottom of the first inning, Macalester scored two runs to take an early 2-0 lead. Senior Renee Nicholson (Downers Grove, Ill./Downers Grove South) led off with a walk, then senior Sophie Futchko (Prince Frederick, Md./Huntingtown) followed with a single. After sophomore Elizabeth Welch (Carol Stream, Ill./Glenbard North) bunted the runners to second and third, sophomore Tess Bojorquez (San Clemente, Calif./San Clemente) hit a double off the fence in right-centerfield to plate both runners. Bethel (19-21) responded in the top of the third inning with two runs on three hits to tie the score at 2-2.

In the bottom of the third inning, the Scots loaded the bases for first year Dylan Tapia (Tarzana, Calif./Notre Dame), who cleared the bases with a three-run single that put Macalester back on top, 5-2. Bojorquez delivered again in the fourth, singling home Nicholson for a 6-2 lead. Still in the fourth, first year Ally Wolf (Valencia, Calif./Valencia) singled to score Welch, then sophomore Monica Montoya (Blue Island, Ill./Dwight D. Eisenhower) came home from third on a wild pitch for an 8-2 advantage.

Bethel threatened in the top of the fifth, putting runners on first and second with one out. Mikaela Girard hit a hard grounder to third that was gloved by Wolf, who stepped on the bag and threw to Welch at first for an inning-ending double play. In the bottom of the fifth, the Scots loaded the bases for Futchko, who plated senior Madeleine Kemper (Sioux Falls, S.D./Lincoln) with a sacrifice fly to make the score 9-2. After Welch drew a walk to load the bases, Bojorquez hit a two-out single up the middle to bring home Martha Miller (Medford, Wis./Medford) and end the game.

Bojorquez went 3-for-3 with a double, a run and four runs batted in to account for half of the Scots' runs. Wolf finished with two hits, as Macalester totaled 10 hits in the win. Miller went the distance, holding Bethel to two runs on six hits while striking out three over five innings to improve to 12-6 on the season.

The Scots head to the semifinals for the first time in the program's history, taking on top-seeded and 11th-ranked Saint Mary's on Saturday, May 10. The game starts at 11:00 a.m. in Winona, Minn. St. Olaf, who defeated St. Catherine, 6-5 in the other first-round game today, will play second-seeded Saint Benedict at 1:30 p.m. on Saturday. The semifinal winners will meet in the championship game at 4:00 p.m.
 
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. 4 Macalester at No. 1 Saint Mary's, 11:00 a.m.
Game 4: No. 3 St. Olaf vs. No. 2 Saint Benedict, 1:30 p.m.
Game 5: Winner of Game 3 vs. Winner of Game 4, 4:00 p.m.