NORTHFIELD, Minn. – The Macalester College softball team lost a pair of games at St. Olaf College, 3-2 and 6-4 in a MIAC doubleheader Tuesday afternoon at Mabel Shirley Field. The Scots are now 19-12 overall and 10-3 in the conference, while the Oles improve to 15-14, 8-5 MIAC.

In the first game, St. Olaf started out with two runs in the bottom of the first for an early 2-0 lead. In the top of the third, Macalester put runners on second and third for junior Martha Miller (Medford, Wis./Medford), whose grounder brought home junior outfielder Callia Holland (Akron, Ohio/Hawken). Junior infielder Elizabeth Welch (Carol Stream, Ill./Glenbard North) followed with a single to plate sophomore outfielder Safiya Butler (St. Louis, Mo./Whitfield School) and tie the score at 2-2. The game remained knotted at 2-2 until the bottom of the sixth, when St. Olaf scored on an error for a 3-2 lead. In the top of the seventh, the Scots put a runner on second with one out but were unable to get the key hit. A strikeout and groundout ended the inning and the threat in the Oles' favor, 3-2.

Macalester registered seven hits in the game, including two by junior infielder Tess Bojorquez (San Clemente, Calif./San Clemente). Miller pitched all six innings, holding St. Olaf to three runs, one earned, on three hits while striking out 11 and walking one.

In the second game, St. Olaf started well again, pushing four runs across in the bottom of the first. The Scots answered in the top of the second with four runs of their own to tie the score at 4-4. Holland doubled to score sophomore infielder Ally Wolf (Valencia, Calif./Valencia), first year Ainsley Sullivan (Charlotte, N.C./Charlotte Latin School) singled home Bojorquez, and Miller hit a two-run single to plate Holland and Sullivan.

The game remained deadlocked until the bottom of the fourth, when the Oles scored a pair of runs on a single by Joy Jung to lead 6-4. In the top of the fifth Macalester loaded the bases with two out, but a groundout ended the threat. The Scots managed a hit in each of the final two innings but were unable to generate any runs, as St. Olaf closed out the win, 6-4.

Butler and sophomore catcher Dylan Tapia (Tarzana, Calif./Notre Dame) registered two hits apiece. Sullivan pitched 3 1/3 innings of relief, allowing two runs on three hits and three walks while striking out two. Bojorquez pitched the final two innings and kept the Oles off the scoreboard while yielding one hit.

Macalester hosts St. Catherine University on Saturday, April 25 for another MIAC twin bill. The first game starts at 3:30 p.m. at the Macalester Softball Complex.