WICHITA FALLS, Texas - Midwestern State opens the South Central Region rankings at No. 2 as released Wednesday afternoon by the NCAA Division II Softball Committee.

The Mustangs (30-3), who have won eight of their last nine games, lead a strong contingent from the Lone Star Conference as the league laid claim to five of the top eight spots in the ranking.

Angelo State (27-3) controls the top spot followed by the Mustangs at No. 2, Emporia State (21-6) at No. 3, Nebraska-Omaha (23-5) at No. 4, West Texas A&M (25-8) at No. 5, Incarnate Word (16-14) at No. 6, St. Mary's (Texas) (23-14) at No. 7, Abilene Christian (20-16) at No. 8, Southeastern Oklahoma (24-14) at No. 9 and Tarleton State (16-10-1) at No. 10.

The top eight teams advance to the 2011 NCAA Division II South Central Regional which will be played in two four-team, double elimination tournaments at campus sites during the weekend of May 13-15.

The advancing teams in a best 2-of-3 super regional at the site of the highest remaining seed on May 11-12 for the right to play in the 2011 NCAA Division II Softball Championships to be held from May 26-30 at Moyer Complex in Salem, Va.

Midwestern State opens the 2011 LSC Crossover Friday against regionally ranked Angelo State and Abilene Christian at 12:30 and 4:30 p.m. respectively at Texas Bank Sports Complex in San Angelo, Texas.

The Mustangs battle Texas A&M-Kingsville and West Texas A&M at 10:30 a.m. and 2:30 p.m. on Saturday before closing the tournament against Texas Woman's and Tarleton State at noon and 2 p.m. on Sunday.
  

NCAA II South Central Region Rankings
March 30, 2011
Rank																														School	D2 Record	In-Region Record
1																														Angelo State (Texas)	27-3	27-3
2																														Midwestern State (Texas)	30-3	26-3
3																														Emporia State (Kan.)	21-6	21-6
4																														Nebraska-Omaha	23-5	23-5
5																														West Texas A&M	25-8	25-8
6																														Incarnate Word (Texas)	16-14	16-14
7																														St. Mary's (Texas)	23-14	23-14
8																														Abilene Christian (Texas)	20-16	20-16
9																														Southeastern Oklahoma	24-14	24-14
10																														Tarleton State (Texas)	16-10-1	16-10-1