ABILENE, Texas - Midwestern State (31-15) will face the homestanding Abilene Christian Wildcats in the opening round of one of the double-elimination four-team brackets of the Lone Star Confrence Softball Championships to determine the participants in the next week's best two out of three series to determine the conference champion.

First pitch for Wells Field is set for 6:30 p.m. in Abilene which follows the site's other first round contest between Central Oklahoma and West Texas A&M which is set for 4 p.m.

Meanwhile, the other half of the bracket will also get underway Friday afternoon on the campus of Southeastern Oklahoma State University in Durant where Angelo State and Cameron battle at noon while the hosting Savage Storm will battle Texas A&M-Kingsville at 2:30 p.m.

The Lone Star Conference has opted to adapt to the same format of the NCAA Division II South Central Regional Tournament which commences on May 8 at campus sites.

The Abilene Bracket Field

Abilene Christian earned hosting rights after finishing as South Division regular season champions and play host to Midwestern State, the No. 4 seed from the North.

North Divison No. 2 Central Oklahoma faces South Divison No. 3 West Texas A&M.

Midwestern in the Lone Star Conference Tournament

Midwestern State claimed Lone Star Conference championships in 2006 and 2007 after advancing to the finals in 2005.

The Mustangs are 13-7 in six appearances in the postseason tournament and advanced four games deep into the 2008 edition before bowing out in a slugfest 7-6 to  Abilene Chrsitian.

The Mustangs against the field

Midwestern State is an even 5-5 against the field of the Abilene Christian Bracket.

The Mustangs split its four games against Abilene Christian as the Wildcats claimed a 4-1 win at the St. Mary's NCAA II Classic back on Feb. 7 in San Antonio before MSU rolled to a twin bill sweep on March 7 by scores of 5-4 and 8-2 at Mustangs Park. ACU claimed the last meeting by a 7-1 on March 29 in Wichita Falls.

Central Oklahoma owned a 3-1 series edge over the Mustangs as the Bronchos claimed a doubleheader sweep by scores of 5-4 and 8-2 at Mustangs Park on March 10. The Mustangs managed a split in the return to Edmond on March 15.

Midwestern claimed wins in its lone two games against West Texas A&M this season, taking a 4-1 win on Feb. 20 in the Mustangs Invitational and a 7-3 decision on March 29 also in Wichita Falls.

Mustangs in the rankings

Midwestern State, which reached as high as No. 15 in the NFCA National poll earlier this season, was receiving votes in the organization's latest poll.

More importantly, the Mustangs occupy No. 6 position in the NCAA Division II South Central Regional poll released last Wednesday.

The top eight teams advance to the NCAA postseason which will consist of a pair of four-team regionals with the winners advancing to a best-of-three game super regional to earn a berth in the 29th Annual Division II Softball Championship in Salem, Va..

MSU is vying to qualify for a spot in its sixth-straight NCAA postseason.

Who's hot

Freshman shortstop Sarah Weary connected for her first career doubles to drive in three runs to lift the Mustangs to a 6-3 win over Northeastern State in Game 2 Tuesday afternoon at Mustangs Park.

The Burkburnett product tops MSU in hitting over the last 10 games by going 9-for-28 (.321 batting average) with a double, an inside-the-park homer and five RBIs.

Weary carries a .354 average in 79 at bats this season with a double, three triples and a home run. She is also second on the team with 10 stolen bases.

Sophomore Brittney Tanner recorded a career-high 11 strikeouts in Tuesday's 6-3 win in Game 2 over Northeastern State.

The Burkburnett product is 3-2 over her last five starts with a 2.14 ERA. Tanner has allowed 10 earned runs on 33 hits and limited the opposition to a .250 batting average with 28 stikeouts in 33 2/3 innings.

Junior starter Katie Petersen took a perfect game into the sixth inning in the in Game on Tuesday before settling for her third shutout of the season with a complete game two-hitter to improve to 14-6.

2009 Lone Star Conference Tournament

Abilene Christian Bracket

Wells Field
Abilene, Texas
Friday, April 24

Game 1: Central Oklahoma vs. West Texas A&M, 4 p.m.
Game 2: Abilene Christian vs. Midwestern State, 6:30 p.m.

Saturday, April 25
Game 3: Game 1 winner vs. Game 2 winner, 1 p.m.
Game 4: Game 1 loser vs. Game 2 loser, 3:30 p.m.
Game 5: Game 3 loser vs. Game 3 winner, 6 p.m.

Sunday, April 26
Game 6: Game 3 winner vs. Game 5 winner, 2 p.m.
Game 7: Game 6 winner vs. Game 6 loser, 4:30 p.m. (if necessary)

Southeastern Oklahoma State Bracket

SOSU Softball Field
Durant, Okla.
Friday, April 24

Game 1: Angelo State vs. Cameron, Noon
Game 2: Southeastern Oklahoma vs. Texas A&M-Kingsville, 2:30 p.m.

Saturday, April 25
Game 3: Game 1 winner vs. Game 2 winner, 11 a.m.
Game 4: Game 1 loser vs. Game 2 loser, 1:30 p.m.
Game 5: Game 3 loser vs. Game 4 winner, 4 p.m.

Sunday, April 26
Game 6: Game 3 winner vs. Game 5 winner, 1 p.m.
Game 7: Game 6 winner vs. Game 6 loser, 3:30 p.m. (if necessary)
 

Lone Star Conference Championship Series

Best-of-3 Series
May 1-2, 2009
Site: To Be Determined

Abilene Christian Bracket winner vs. Southeastern Oklahoma Bracket winner, TBA