MINNEAPOLIS, Minn. – The Macalester College softball team swept Augsburg University in a MIAC doubleheader, coming back to win the first game, 7-5 before racking up 20 hits in an 18-0 victory in Game 2 Wednesday afternoon at Edor Nelson Field. The results give the Scots a 13-9 record overall and a 4-0 mark in conference play, while the Auggies fall to 6-16, 1-5 MIAC.

In the first game, junior infielder Elizabeth Welch (Carol Stream, Ill./Glenbard North) singled home junior pitcher Martha Miller (Medford, Wis./Medford) in the top of the first for an early lead. After Augsburg scored twice in the bottom of the second, Welch singled to plate Miller again in the top of the third to tie the score at 2-2. Lola Pilon put the Auggies on top with a solo home run in the bottom of the third for a 3-2 edge.

In the top of the fifth, Welch drove in her third run of the game with an infield single that brought home junior Monica Montoya (Blue Island, Ill./Dwight D. Eisenhower) to tie the game at 3-3. Then in the sixth, junior outfielder Alli Johnson (Waukee, Iowa/Northwest) put Macalester on top with a single to score sophomore Maya Thomas (Canton, N.Y./Hugh C. Williams). After a flyout, first year Ainsley Sullivan (Charlotte, N.C./Charlotte Latin School) drew a walk to load the bases for Miller, who roped a double into left center that cleared the bases for a 7-3 advantage. The Auggies scored two runs in the seventh and threatened to score more with runners on first and third with one out. But junior pitcher Tess Bojorquez (San Clemente, Calif./San Clemente) struck out the next batter and induced a groundout to end the game.

Welch went 3-for-3 with a walk and three runs batted in, while Miller was 3-for-4 with a double, two runs and three RBIs at the plate. Miller started in the circle and gave up three hits and three runs in three innings. Bojorquez entered the game in the fourth and held Augsburg to two runs on six hits while striking out six in four innings to earn the win.

The Scots took control of the second game right off the bat and never looked back, sending 15 batters to the plate and registering nine runs on eight hits and two errors in the top of the first inning. Junior outfielder Callia Holland (Akron, Ohio/Hawken) singled home Welch in her first at-bat, then doubled to plate Welch again later in the inning. Sullivan hit a two-run double, Johnson had an RBI double, Bojorquez drove in a run and sophomore infielder Ally Wolf (Valencia, Calif./Valencia) and Welch each had RBI singles in the inning. Four more runs came across in the top of the second, with Miller doubling home Montoya and Holland bringing home Miller with a single.

Johnson led off the top of the third with a home run, her team-leading fourth of the season, for a 14-0 lead. In the fourth, senior Kara Jensen (Elmhurst, Ill./York) doubled and scored along with Bojorquez on a single by Wolf to make the score 16-0. Thomas led off the fifth with a double, went to third on a single by Welch and scored on a sacrifice fly from junior Paige Schultz (Hamilton, N.J./Steinert). Jensen doubled home Welch to close out the scoring.

Augsburg managed just two hits off Macalester pitching. Miller started and pitched two innings, allowing one hit. Sullivan pitched two perfect innings, and senior Maddie Molay (Northbrook, Ill./Glenbrook North) had two strikeouts in the final inning to wrap up the win. Johnson went 3-for-3 with a homer, a double, three runs and two RBIs. Holland had three hits and three RBIs, while Miller, Welch, Bojorquez, Jensen, Wolf and Sullivan each had two hits.

The Scots face Hamline in another MIAC doubleheader on Saturday, April 11. The first game begins at 1:00 p.m. at Hamline.