ST. PAUL, Minn. – The Macalester College softball team defeated Concordia College, 8-0 in five innings and 6-1 to earn a sweep of a MIAC doubleheader Thursday afternoon at the Macalester Softball Complex. The results keep the Scots unbeaten in conference play with a 9-0 record and improve their overall record to 18-9. The Cobbers fall to 8-14, 0-8 MIAC.

The first game remained scoreless until Macalester broke through in the bottom of the third inning. The Scots loaded the bases with consecutive singles by junior outfielder Alli Johnson (Waukee, Iowa/Northwest), sophomore outfielder Safiya Butler (St. Louis, Mo./Whitfield School) and junior pitcher Martha Miller (Medford, Wis./Medford). Junior infielder Elizabeth Welch (Carol Stream, Ill./Glenbard North) drew a walk to plate Johnson. Sophomore infielder Ally Wolf (Valencia, Calif./Valencia) followed with a sacrifice fly to bring home Butler, then sophomore catcher Dylan Tapia (Tarzana, Calif./Notre Dame) singled to drive in Miller for a 3-0 lead.

In the fourth inning, junior Rebecca Heinze (Rosemount, Minn./Prescott) belted a solo home run, her first as a Scot, for a 4-0 lead. Still in the fourth, Butler doubled and Miller singled her home to make the score 5-0. Then in the fifth, Macalester loaded the bases for junior outfielder Callia Holland (Akron, Ohio/Hawken), who singled to score Wolf. Later in the inning, Johnson hit a sacrifice fly to plate sophomore Maya Thomas (Canton, N.Y./Hugh C. Williams), then Butler and Miller drew back-to-back walks, with Miller's free pass bringing home Holland to make the score 8-0 and end the game.

Miller went 3-for-3 with a run and two runs batted in at the plate. She also pitched all five innings, holding Concordia scoreless on two hits while walking two and striking out four to improve to 10-6. Butler recorded two hits and scored two runs in the win.

Butler again was the catalyst for the Scots in Game 2, leading off the first inning with a bunt single, then stealing second and moving to third on a bunt by Miller. A grounder by Welch allowed Butler to score the game's first run. The score remained 1-0 until the top of the third, when Concordia scored an unearned run to tie the game at 1-1.

In the bottom of the fourth, Macalester loaded the bases with two out for Bojorquez, who hit a two-run single for a 3-1 advantage. Johnson followed with a single that brought home sophomore shortstop Allison Dvorak (Poulsbo, Wash./North Kitsap) to make the score 4-1. Heinze singled with the bases loaded in the fifth to score Welch, and Welch's sacrifice fly brought home Butler in the sixth for a 6-1 lead. The Cobbers put a runner on second with one out, but first year pitcher Ainsley Sullivan (Charlotte, N.C./Charlotte Latin School) retired the final two batters to close out the win.

Bojorquez started in the circle and limited Concordia to an unearned run on eight hits while walking one and fanning six in five innings to improve to 5-2. Sullivan pitched the final two innings and did not allow a hit or a walk while striking out two. Butler, Welch and Bojorquez led the Scots' bats with two hits apiece.

Macalester hosts Bethel University on Sunday, April 19 in a MIAC doubleheader. The first game begins at 1:00 p.m. at the Macalester Softball Complex.