WICHITA FALLS, Texas - Kaycee Taylor's two-run, sixth inning single proved to be the difference as No. 19 Angelo State advanced to the NCAA Division II Championships with a 7-5 win over No. 5 Midwestern State in the South Central Super Regionals Saturday afternoon at Mustangs Park.

"This was a long, grueling day," ASU coach Travis Scott said. "They (MSU) weren't going to go away, and we knew that. We battled and beat two great pitchers today. I'm so proud of our team."

The Rambelles (48-13) move on to face Central Region champ Metropolitan State (Colo.) in the opening round of the NCAA II Championships Thursday night at Heritage Park in St. Joseph, Mo. First pitch is set for 7:30 p.m.

Taylor lined MSU reliever Katie Petersen's 0-1 offering into right field to plate a pair of runners to give the Rambelles a 7-4 lead all after Midwestern closed a 5-1 deficit to come within a run in the top of the inning.

"I'm very proud," MSU coach Brady Tigert said. "I think a lot of people counted us out, but we responded like we have all year. We came and fought hard from the first pitch of the first game to the last pitch of the last game. We have a team full of fighters and that's why we were able to win 54 games this year."

The Mustangs close the year with a Lone Star Conference record for wins at 54-10, but certainly made it close.

MSU freshman shortstop Natalie Rodriguez opened the game with her eighth homer of the season over the left-field fence to give the Mustangs the early 1-0 lead, but Angelo State fought back in the bottom of the frame.

Sarah DeMoss led off with an infield single, stole second and advanced third on Taylor's ground out to first.

MSU third baseman Mallory Mooney then fielded Kacey Easley's grounder, checked DeMoss at third before going to first base, but DeMoss was able to beat the throw back to the plate to knot the game at 1-1.

Amanda Wilhelm tacked on an RBI-single off of MSU starter Brittney Tanner before Brittany Astle launched a two-run shot down the left-field line to give Angelo State a 4-1 lead.

The Rambelles added an unearned run in the second before Midwestern finally got to ASU starter Chelsea Nelson who improved to 27-8 despite allowing five runs - all earned - on 10 hits go to along with one walk and five strikeouts.

MSU first baseman McKenzie Sickler laced a run-scoring single to left field in the fifth to pull the Mustangs within 5-2, then Amanda Potysman delivered a two-run single to center field in the sixth to pull MSU within a run.

But the Mustangs stranded two runners in the top of the sixth before Angelo State answered with consecutive infield singles by Astle and Chelsey Walters before Petersen loaded the bases by issuing a one-out walk to Nicole Smith.

Petersen, who allowed two runs on four hits in four innings of relief, enticed DeMoss to foul out before Taylor ripped the single to right field.

"She's a great kid," Tigert said of Taylor. "She can just hit it. Taylor and (Alix) Dean are just battlers and great hitters. They are in the middle of the lineup and just hard to get through."

Rodriguez smashed her second homer of the game to lead off the seventh inning to pull the Mustangs within two runs, but that's as close as they could get.

Tanner was saddled with the loss to close the season at 22-3 after allowing five runs - four earned - on four hits in two innings.

Tanner, Potysman power MSU past Angelo State in Game 2: Midwestern State's Amanda Potysman crushed two home runs as No. 5 Midwestern State forced a third and deciding game with a 7-2 win over No. 19 Angelo State in the NCAA Division II South Central Super Regional Saturday afternoon at Mustangs Park.

And junior pitcher Brittney Tanner made sure the homers stood up as she limited the Rambelles to two runs on three hits while striking out 12 to improve to 22-2 on the season.

Potysman, who homered on three-straight at bats against Angelo State, struck for a three-run homer to left field in the second inning then added a solo shot in the fourth to give MSU a 4-2 lead.

Junior first baseman McKenzie Sickler followed with a solo blast in the fourth and the Mustangs took advantage of an error to plate two more in the sixth.

Angelo State's Amanda Wilhelm's two-run homer in the second inning accounted for all of the Rambelles offensive output in Game 2.

Quotables

Angelo State

Travis Scott, Head Coach

"This was a long, grueling day. They (MSU) weren't going to go away, and we knew that. We battled and beat two great pitchers today. I'm so proud of our team."

Chelsea Nelson, senior pitcher

"We were going to do as much as we could do to win the final game. We have the fight in us."

Midwestern State

Brady Tigert, Head Coach

"I'm very proud. I think a lot of people counted us out. We responded just like we have all year. We came and fought from the first pitch of the first game to the last pitch of the last game."

"They are fighters and that's why we've won 54 games."

"Taylor and Dean are just battlers and great hitters. They are the main core of the group; they are in the middle of the lineup and tough to get through."

"She's a great kid and I tried to recruit her. She can just hit it. What can you say?"

Amanda Potysman, junior outfielder

"It was a fun experience. The whole time I was there praying and playing and giving the glory to God."

"I knew we were going to keep battling. I knew we weren't going to give up."

Natalie Rodriguez, freshman shortstop

"I was expecting three good games and that's what we had. I was just hoping we would come up on top. We're losing two good players, but we are still going to be good. I think we can make it back here."

"We were hitting the ball hard and we knew it was eventually going to get through."