SALEM, Va. - Midwestern State's Kristina Gutierrez weaved her 13th shutout of the season to lead No. 5 Midwestern State to a 3-0 win over No. 11 Indiana (Pa.) in an elimination game Saturday afternoon in the NCAA Division II Softball Championships at the Moyer Sports Complex.

"I'm very proud of Kristina in so many ways especially in her maturity level and her work ethic," MSU coach Brady Tigert said. "I can't say enough about what she's done for our team and our program."

Gutierrez improved to 23-4 allowing just two hits - both to Kristen Tunno - notching seven strikeouts while walking just one.

"My curve ball and my knuckle (ball) was working very well," Gutierrez said. "We stuck with it and even went with the curve ball to the lefties and I got 'em."

The Mustangs had to work out of one major jam when when Tunno ripped a one-out double down the left-field line and moved to third on a throwing error, but Gutierrez fanned Michelle Bivona and induced Mary Ward to fly out to center field to end the threat.

Midwestern broke through with a run in the fourth inning as Kim Jerrick was hit by a pitch, Courtney Bingham singled to left center and Alyson Reynolds singled off of Indiana (Pa.) shortstop Marissa Leslie's glove to load the bases.

The Mustangs pushed the run across the plate in Amanda Potysman's sacrifice fly down the left field line to forge a 1-0 lead.

MSU tacked on a pair of runs in the fifth inning as Nicki Duff scored on Mallory Mooney's sacrifice fly to center field while Elena Bennett came plateward when an errant throw got away from the third baseman to push the lead to 3-0.

Gutierrez retired the last 10 batters she faced to close out the Crimson Hawks, who closed the season at 38-8.

Bennett and Potysman paced the Mustangs' six-hit attack with two hits each.

Midwestern State takes on Minnesota State in another elimination game tonight at 6:30 p.m. (Central Time).

The winner moves on to face Alabama-Huntsville in the national semifinals Sunday at 1:30 p.m.