The Macalester softball team began its conference play Wednesday by splitting a doubleheader with Carleton. Though the Scots dropped the first game 8–0, they came back strong in the second game to beat the Knights 4-0.

"In our first game, we weren't really together. But we put that out of our minds for the second game and played very well," Meghan Pederson'04 said.

In the first game, the Knights (5–5, 1–1 MIAC) scored six runs in the first three innings and scored twice more in the top of the fifth, ending the game when they led by eight runs at the completion of the fifth inning. In game two, pitcher Alisha Seifert '05 scattered three hits leading to the complete-game shutout of the Knights. The Scots (6–11, 1–1 MIAC) did the bulk of their damage to the Knights in the second inning, scoring three times on two hits. A pair of walks put runners on first and second and Gina Huss '06 plated both with a single. A sacrifice moved Huss to second and she scored on Lisa Bauer's '04 single. The Scots still had runners at first and second with one out and the bases loaded with two outs, but Knights pitcher Caitlyn Cornell got a pair of line-outs to end the threat without any further damage.

Carleton's closest chance to score came in the third, but a groudout and a double-play by the Scots ended the threat quickly. Seifert retired eight of the final nine batters for the Knights to preserve the shutout.

The team entered conference play with a three game winning streak and an overall record of 5–10. The Scots have already won more games than they won all of last season and according to captain Caitlin Adams '04 are on track to have their best season in four years. In pre-conference play, Adams hit .405 and had 11 RBIs. Short stop Lisa Bauer '04 also helped lead the attack for the Scots, batting .360 with 11 runs scored. Seifert provided a solid pitching effort throughout pre-conference play, and continued to pitch well in the MIAC opener against Carleton.

"All of the negative things we thought would affect us this season don't matter," Seifeirt said. "This is the best team I've ever played on. New players are playing better than anyone expected. Some haven't ever played competitive softball before but they're doing really well. They're out there starting, they're getting runs, they're playing defense," she added.

Pederson agreed, saying that she doesn't feel that the team is surprised by their success thus far. "We knew we could do it, though other people didn't seem hopeful. Now we're doing well and people can see that we can really compete at a higher level."

The Scots continue conference play and improve their record this Saturday April 5 when they take on Gustavus Adolphus in a double-header at 1 p.m. The game will be played at Gustavus. The Scots will then go up against the Pipers of Hamline on April 8 at 4 p.m. at home before traveling to St. Olaf on April 10.