ST. PAUL, Minn. – The Macalester College softball team battled eighth-ranked Saint Mary's University but came up short, losing 6-1 and 7-1 in a MIAC doubleheader Friday afternoon at the Macalester Softball Complex. The results drop the Scots to 21-17 overall and 12-8 in conference play, while the Cardinals improve to 35-5, 20-2 MIAC.
Macalester's offense put runners on base but was unable to generate many runs. In the first game, the Scots had runners in scoring position in the second, third and sixth innings but were unable to deliver the key hit. Meanwhile, Saint Mary's scored three runs in the top of the third inning, including a two-run homer by Peyton Berg, tallied two more in the fourth and added a run in the sixth for a 6-0 lead. With two out in the bottom of the seventh, junior outfielder
Allie Johnson (Waukee, Iowa/Northwest) belted a solo home run to left to avoid a shutout. It was Johnson's fifth homer of the season, tying junior outfielder
Callia Holland (Akron, Ohio/Hawken) for the team lead.
Macalester managed seven hits, including two from Johnson, off of Cardinals' pitcher Makayla Steffes, who struck out four without a walk in a complete-game victory. Junior
Tess Bojorquez (San Clemente, Calif./San Clemente) relieved junior starter
Martha Miller (Medford, Wis./Medford) and gave up an unearned run on three hits over three innings. Miller allowed seven hits and five runs over four innings.
The second game was similar in that the Scots had baserunners but failed to capitalize. Saint Mary's pushed two runs across in the top of the first and tallied three more runs in the fourth to lead 5-0. After stranding a runner on second in the second and third innings, Macalester got on the scoreboard in the bottom of the fifth. With two out and sophomore shortstop
Allison Dvorak (Poulsbo, Wash./North Kitsap) on first, sophomore outfielder
Safiya Butler (St. Louis, Mo./Whitfield School) singled and Miller followed with a single to plate Dvorak and make the score 5-1. A strikeout stranded Butler at third, then the Cardinals added two more runs in the top of the seventh. All seven of Saint Mary's runs were scored with two outs.
Seven different players had hits off of pitcher Kenzie Gatz, who struck out 10 batters and walked one in seven innings. Bojorquez again relieved the starter, first year
Ainsley Sullivan (Charlotte, N.C./Charlotte Latin School), and held the Cardinals to two runs on six hits over 3 1/3 innings.
Macalester wraps up the regular season with a MIAC doubleheader against first-place Saint Benedict on Saturday, May 2. The first game begins at 1:00 p.m. at the Macalester Softball Complex.
