ST. PETER, Minn. – The Macalester College softball team scored eight runs in the sixth inning to erase a 6-0 deficit and win the first game of a sweep of Gustavus on the road Sunday afternoon at the Gustie Softball Field. The Scots, who won the second game 3-1, improve to 16-9 overall and remain unbeaten in conference play at 7-0. The Gusties drop to 11-13, 4-4 MIAC.

In the first game, Gustavus built a 6-0 lead with a run in the first, three runs in the second and single runs in the fourth and fifth innings. Macalester didn't get on the scoreboard until the top of the sixth, but did so in a big way. Sophomore outfielder Safiya Butler (St. Louis, Mo./Whitfield School) led off with a single and scored on a double by junior Martha Miller (Medford, Wis./Medford). Sophomore infielder Ally Wolf (Valencia, Calif./Valencia) hit a sacrifice fly to plate Miller and make the score 6-2. With two out and runners on first and second, junior Callia Holland (Akron, Ohio/Hawken) struck the big blow with a three-run home run that scored junior infielder Elizabeth Welch (Carol Stream, Ill./Glenbard North) and sophomore Dylan Tapia (Tarzana, Calif./Notre Dame).

Still with two down in the sixth, junior Rebecca Heinze (Rosemount, Minn./Prescott) doubled and was replaced by junior pinch runner Monica Montoya (Blue Island, Ill./Dwight D. Eisenhower), who raced home on a single by senior Kara Jensen (Elmhurst, Ill./York) with the tying run. Butler followed with a triple that brought home junior outfielder Alli Johnson (Waukee, Iowa/Northwest), who re-entered for Jensen, for the go-ahead run, 7-6. Miller made it 8-6 by driving in Butler again with a single to complete the comeback.

Junior Tess Bojorquez (San Clemente, Calif./San Clemente), who pitched the third and fourth innings, re-entered and blanked the Gusties over the final two innings to close out the win. Bojorquez allowed one run on three hits while striking out two and walking one in four innings of work to earn the save. Junior Paige Schultz (Hamilton, N.J./Steinert) pitched the fifth inning and earned the win. Butler, Miller and Holland each had two hits to lead the offense.

Butler started things off again in Game 2, leading off with single, stealing second and scoring on a grounder off the bat of Miller for a 1-0 lead. Gustavus tied the score with a run in the bottom of the first, and the game remained knotted at 1-1 until the top of the fourth. The Scots put runners on second and third with two out on a walk, a single and a groundout, then a passed ball allowed sophomore Maya Thomas (Canton, N.Y./Hugh C. Williams) to come home with the go-ahead run. Macalester pushed an insurance run across in the top of the seventh, when Holland and Montoya executed a double steal that brought Montoya home for a 3-1 lead.

Bojorquez gave up a single in the bottom of the seventh but retired the Gusties to wrap up the win. She pitched all seven innings, holding Gustavus to one run on five hits while fanning eight and walking four to earn the win. The Scots pounded out 11 hits but left 12 runners on base. Butler and Tapia had two hits apiece in the win.

Next up for Macalester is a MIAC doubleheader against Concordia College at home on Thursday, April 16. The first pitch is set for 4:30 p.m. at the Macalester Softball Complex.