ST. PAUL, Minn. -- In a matchup of two squads each seeking its first conference victory of the season, Carleton College and Macalester College split a doubleheader on Monday. The Knights won the first game 3-2, while the Scots secured the nightcap, 3-0.
This was Carleton’s first conference victory since concluding the 2007 campaign with a sweep off Concordia College-Moorhead.The Knights got on the scoreboard first when Alex Schefter (So./Mt. Vernon, Iowa) was hit by a pitch with one away in the top of the opening frame. She moved up to second on a walk and scored on Hannah Maras’ (Sr./Madelia, Minn.) clutch base hit to right-center.
Carleton extended its lead with another run in the third. Michael Johnson (Jr./Minneapolis, Minn./Blake) led off the inning with a double to center, advanced on an error and scored on a groundout off the bat of Lisa Friedman (Sr./Pasadena, Calif./Flintridge Preparatory).
Macalester answered right back in the bottom of the third with a pair of runs off starting pitcher Mari Jo Long (Sr./Willmette, Ill./New Trier). The Scots used a triple, a double, and a single to do the damage.
Long and Amanda Knopf, the Scot’s rookie hurler, remained locked in a pitcher’s dual until the Knights broke the tie in the seventh. Johnson doubled to begin the rally and one batter later scored on Knopf’s throwing error.
Macalester managed to get the tying run aboard with two out in the bottom of the seventh, but Long sealed the win with a strikeout of Ali Nystrom.
In game two, the Scots jumped out to an early lead, scoring twice in the first inning thanks to four hits off Karen Robinson (Fy./Bainbridge Island, Wash.). The only other run in the contest came in the bottom of the sixth as two hits and a sac bunt lead to the Macalester’s final tally. The Knights meanwhile were limited to four hits—all singles.
Carleton’s busy week continues with home doubleheaders versus Concordia College-Moorhead and Bethel University on Tuesday and Thursday respectively. The Knights then play their fourth opponent in six days when they travel to national No. 4 University of St. Thomas on Saturday, April 18.