Game One Box (.pdf) | Game Two Box (.pdf)

WICHITA FALLS – The No. 21 Angelo State softball team swung its way to a 7-4 victory against Midwestern State in game one and forced a winner-take-all showdown against MSU Sunday afternoon. Despite winning three games in two days, the Rambelles dropped the final game of the NCAA D-II South Central Regional at Wichita Falls to the fifth-ranked Mustangs, 5-2.

The loss brings to a close the 2011 Angelo State softball season and the careers of three ASU seniors—Brittany Astle, Alix Dean and Kaycee Taylor.

“It's impossible to replace Alix, Kaycee and Brittany,” said head coach Travis Scott. “They are great players but even greater people, and I was just lucky enough to get to know them. Angelo State softball will truly miss these three girls.”

Game 1: Angelo State 7, Midwestern State 4
With the lead-off runner reaching safely in 12-consecutive innings in Saturday's action, Morgan Spearman kept the streak alive for Angelo State (45-14) with a leadoff single against the Mustangs to open Championship Sunday. Coach Scott looked to play small ball, as Chelsey Walters laid down a sacrifice bunt to advance Spearman. Dean then delivered an RBI single to left field to give the Belles an early 1-0 lead.

The Belles added to their lead in the top of the sixth. With the bases loaded and one out, Spearman poked a line drive over the outstretched glove of the second baseman to score Elsa Apo and give ASU a 2-0 edge. ASU was not done, as Walters pulled a bases-clearing double down the left-field line to give the Rambelles a 5-0 cushion.

Midwestern State (50-11) countered in the bottom half, scoring three runs on three hits. Amanda Potysman drove in two on an RBI single to right field, while the final run came on a bases loaded walk.

Angelo State would get two of those runs back in the top of the seventh. ASU centerfielder Brittany Astle—who made a spectacular breadbasket catch over her right shoulder along the warning track in the fifth—hit an RBI single up the middle to score Kacie Easley from second. The Rambelles took advantage of a Mustangs' throwing error which scored DeeshanaLynn Tafiti to make it a 7-3 game.

Midwestern State's Mallory Mooney hit her 13th home run of the season in the bottom of the seventh, but it would not be enough as the Belles took game one, 7-4.

ASU's Claire Molina would pick up the win and improve to 23-7, while MSU's Brittney Tanner (29-7) suffered the loss. Molina allowed three runs on seven hits in 5.2 innings of work before handing the ball to Mary Kate McKay for the final 1.1 innings.

Game 2: Midwestern State 5, Angelo State 2
With one out and the game scoreless in the bottom of the second, MSU's Kim Jerrick hit possibly the longest single in Mustangs Park history. The catcher flew the ball off the top of the left-field wall, but ASU leftfielder Amanda Wilhelm fielded the ball cleanly and limited the freshman to a single. This was as far as she would advance as the next two Mustangs were retired.

Jerrick returned to the batter's box in the bottom of the fourth with two Mustangs on. This time the Bell Plaine, Kan., native cleared the eight-foot fence in left field and gave MSU a 3-0 lead.

The Mustangs extend their lead in the fifth inning to 5-0, which was highlighted by Mallory Mooney's two-run double.

Angelo State would not go away quietly, as the Belles rallied in the sixth inning. After a Spearman single, Wilhelm hit the ball to second, but an errant throw put runners on first and second with one out. Taylor then singled to centerfield which scored one and made it a 5-1 game. ASU catcher Kacie Easley earned a walk to load the bases, which was followed by an Elsa Apo single to make it a three-run affair (3-2).

Midwestern State went on to win the game, 5-2, and advanced to play next week for the South Central Regional Championship against either West Texas A&M or Nebraska-Omaha.

MSU's Kristina Gutierrez improved to 21-4 on the season after throwing 5.2 innings. Molina (23-8) suffered the loss after going 4.2 innings, allowing six hits and four earned runs.

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