TOPEKA, Kan. – After splitting a doubleheader with Loras College yesterday, the Macalester College baseball team lost the third game with the Duhawks, 10-2 Saturday afternoon at Bettis Complex. The Scots are now 1-2 to start the 2026 season, while Loras improves to 2-1.

The Duhawks put single runs on the board in the second and fourth innings before breaking through with three runs in the top of the sixth for a 5-0 lead. In the bottom of the sixth, senior outfielder Niko Alexander (Bethesda, Md./Walt Whitman) led off with a double, then junior infielder Isaiah Ramirez (Houston, Texas/Northbrook) drew a walk. After a strikeout, senior infielder Tristan Jones (Fairfield, Conn./Greens Farms Academy) doubled to bring home Alexander for the Scots' first run of the game.

In the bottom of the seventh, junior catcher Ben Oberdorfer (Jacksonville, Fla./Paxon School) singled and advanced to second on an error to start the inning. He eventually advanced to third for sophomore outfielder Tristan Lander (West Chester, Pa./B. Reed Henderson), who doubled home Oberdorfer to make the score 5-2 Loras. But in the top of the eighth, the Duhawks put the game out of reach with five runs on six hits.

Oberdorfer and senior outfielder Raymond McCaskey (Colorado Springs, Colo./Manitou Springs) each had two hits for the game to lead the Macalester at the plate. Junior pitcher Nick Strezo (San Mateo, Calif./Hillsdale) started and allowed five runs on eight hits while striking out two and walking none in 5 1/3 innings of work.

Macalester continues its schedule next weekend with three games at Mary Hardin Baylor in Austin, Texas. The first game is Friday, Feb. 27 at 3:00 p.m., with the teams playing a doubleheader on Saturday at 12:00 p.m. and 2:30 p.m.