SAN ANGELO, Texas - Southeastern Oklahoma State's Benita Sanchez's two-run single though the middle lifted the No. 14 Savage Storm to a 3-2 win over Midwestern State Thursday afternoon at the NCAA Division II South Central Regionals at the Angelo State Softball Complex.

The Mustangs (36-27) will face Abilene Christian - a 10-3 winner over Fort Lewis earlier on Thursday - in an elimination game Friday morning at 11 a.m.

Southeastern Oklahoma (52-10) moves into the winner's bracket final and will face the winner of the Angelo State/St. Edward's match which began at 8 p.m.

"It's a disappointing loss," MSU coach Brady Tigert said. "To have a tough opponent on the ropes and lose like that. We just gave them too many chances in the seventh."

Rachel Sill led off the seventh with a single to left field and Lesley Boyd reached on a fielder's choice to hird before MSU starter Katie Petersen hit the next two batters as Cassie Tice took an inside pitch off of the forearm and Jennifer Morales appeared to stick her left arm out at a change up to load the bases.

After leadoff hitter Rachel Lynn was called back after running into a Petersen offering, she struck out for the second out of the frame.

NOTE: Kristen Stonecipher's run-scoring single in the first inning was her 171st career RBI and ties her with former Abilene Christian standout Katie Bryan for the most career RBI in Lone Star Conference history.

Sanchez hit a bounder through the middle to chase home two runs and give the Savage Storm their first run of the game.

The Mustangs struck for a run in the first inning when Kristen Stonecipher roped a run-scoring single to left field to plate Maranda Bishop, who had drawn a walk, moved to second on a wild pitch and stolen third base.

MSU increased its advantage to 2-0 in the fourth after Becca Wessels scored from third on Ashley Kuchesnki RBI fielder's choice.

Wessels had come on to run for Lauren Craig, who had a leadoff walk.

Wessels moved to second on a sacrifice bunt by Tabitha Yannetti and to third on an wild pitch before Yannetti sent a slow roller to second base.

But the Savage Storm rallied for a run in the fifth when Morales delivered an RBI-single to right field as Southeastern closed to within 2-1.

Petersen took the loss for the Mustangs to fall to 26-9 after allowing three runs on five hits while strking out two and walking two.

SOSU starter Marjorie Johnson improved to 27-3 after limiting the Mustangs to two runs on three hits while fanning seven and walking three.

The Savage Storm have now claimed wins in each of their six contests with MSU this season.

Bishop, Stonecipher and Lindsey Voigt had a hit each for the Mustangs, while Sill went 2-for-3 for Southeastern.

Note: Kristen Stonecipher's run-scoring single in the first inning was the171st of her career and ties her with former Abilene Christian standout Katie Bryan for the Lone Star Conference's all-time lead in career RBI.

2008 NCAA Division II South Central Regional Schedule

Angelo State Softball Field
San Angelo, Texas

Wednesday, May 7
Game 1: Southeastern Oklahoma 2, Central Oklahoma 0
Game 2: Midwestern State 2, St. Mary's 0
Game 3: St. Edward's 3, Abilene Christian 1
Game 4: Angelo State 9, Fort Lewis 1

Thursday, May 8
Game 5: Central Oklahoma 7, St. Mary's 4 (St. Mary's eliminated)
Game 6: Abilene Christian 10, Fort Lewis 3 (Fort Lewis eliminated)
Game 7: Southeastern Oklahoma 3, Midwestern State 2
Game 8: Angelo State 5, St. Edward's 1

Friday, May 9
Game 9: (5) Abilene Christian vs. (7) Midwestern State, 11 a.m.
Game 10: (6) Central Oklahoma vs. (4) St. Edward's, 1:30 p.m.
Game 11: (3) Southeastern Oklahoma vs. (1) Angelo State, 4 p.m.
Game 12: Winner Game 9 vs. Winner Game 10, 6:30 p.m.

Saturday, May 10
Game 13: Winner Game 12 vs. Loser Game 11, 1 p.m.
Game 14: Winner 11 vs. Winner Game 13, 4 p.m.

Sunday, May 11
Game 15: Winner Game 14 vs. Loser Game 14 (if necessary)