Skip To Main Content
Skip To Main Content

MSU Athletics

The official site of midwestern state university athletics midwestern state university athletics
NCAA II Super Regional (May 20-21, 2011)

Softball MSU Sports Information

The dream lives! Alabama-Huntsville lone obstacle between MSU and title game

Setting the Stage
Two wins and No. 1 Alabama-Huntsville stand between MIdwestern State and its first ever NCAA Division II national championship appearance.

The Mustangs and Chargers square off in the national semifinals today at 1:30 p.m. (Central Time) with the if necessary game following at either 6 or 7:30 p.m. (Central Time) pending the outcome of the Bracket 1 final between California-San Diego and Saginaw Valley State.

MSU battled its way back through the loser's draw with a pair of shutout victories Saturday afternoon as Kristina Gutierrez and Brittney Tanner tossed 2-hit gems in 3-0 and 1-0 victories over Indiana (Pa.) and Minnesota State, respectively.

Alabama-Huntsville took advantage of an error and two hit batsmen to surprise the Mustangs 3-2 back on Thursday night in the opening round.

The Chargers then blistered North Georgia 14-2 in Friday's winner's bracket final.

Where to Find the Games
  • Video Streaming - A free streaming video feed is available from NCAA.com for the entire tournament. The championship game airs live on CBS College Sports Monday morning at 11 a.m. (Central Time)        Link
  • Live Stats - Live stats are available courtesy of NCAA.com.  Link

About the NCAA II Championship
The NCAA Division II Softball Championship is played as two separate four-team, double elimination brackets with the winner advancing to a winner-take-all final Monday morning at 11 a.m. (Central Time).

Bracket No. 1 features No. 14 Minnesota State-Mankato, No. 16 UC-San Diego, No. 25 C.W. Post (N.Y.) and unranked Saginaw Valley State, while Bracket No. 2 is stacked with No. 1 Alabama-Huntsville, No. 2 North Georgia, No. 5 MSU and No. 11 Indiana (Pa.).

Here is the schedule:

Thursday, May 26
Bracket 1
Game 1: UC-San Diego 7, C.W. Post (N.Y.) 0
Game 2: Minnesota State-Mankato 2, Saginaw Valley State (Mich.) 1
Bracket 2
Game 3: North Georgia 9, Indiana (Pa.) 4
Game 4: Alabama-Huntsville 3, Midwestern State 2

Friday, May 27
Bracket 1
Game 5: UC-San Diego 4, Minnesota State-Mankato 2
Bracket 2
Game 6: Alabama-Huntsville 14, North Georgia 2

Saturday, May 28
Bracket 1
Game 7: Saginaw Valley State 2, C.W. Post 0 (C.W. Post eliminated)
Game 9: Saginaw Valley State 7, North Georgia 1 (North Georgia eliminated)
Bracket 2
Game 8: Midwestern State 3, Indiana (Pa.) 0 (Indiana (Pa.) eliminated)
Game 10: Midwestern State 1, Minnesota State-Mankato 0 (Minnesota State-Mankato eliminated)
Sunday, May 29
Bracket 1
Game 11: UC-San Diego 2 , Saginaw Valley State (Mich.) 1 (Saginaw Valley State eliminated)
Bracket 2
Game 12: Alabama-Huntsville (47-5-1) vs. Midwestern State (54-13), 1:30 p.m.
Game 13: Winner Game 12 vs. Loser Game 12, 5 p.m. (if necessary)

Monday, May 30
Championship
UC-San Diego (44-13) vs. Alabama-Huntsville/Midwestern State winner, 11 a.m.

MSU Quick Notes
  • Midwestern State has never played for an NCAA Division II championship, but played in three title games as a member of the NAIA. The men's basketball program advanced in the finals in 1975 before falling to Grand Canyon, while men's soccer finished as national runners-up in 1982 and 1983 losing to Simon Fraser both seasons on its home pitch in Wichita Falls.
  • Midwestern State's wins over Indiana (Pa.) and Minnesota State were its first victories at an NCAA Division II championship venue in school history. The men's soccer program battled its way to a pair of Final Four showings before falling to eventual champion Franklin Pierce (N.H.) in penalty kicks in 2007 and dropped a 3-1 decision to Rollins (Fla.) last fall. The men's basketball program has played in the last two Elite Eights falling in the national quarterfinal round first to St. Cloud State (Minn.) in 2010 and to eventual champion Bellarmine (Ky.) in 2011.
  • The Mustangs matched their own Lone Star Conference single season record with their 54th win Saturday night over Minnesota State. MSU rolled to a 54-10 record before falling in the Super Regional round to Angelo State in 2010. The 108 wins over the last two seasons are more than any other team in any division of the NCAA. Michigan is the NCAA Division I leader with 102, while Linfield led D3 with 93.
  • Another day, another nationally ranked opponent for Midwestern State. For the 10th consecutive game and for the 12th time in 13 games, the Mustangs will face a team ranked in the NFCA Division II Top 25 in No. 1 Alabama-Huntsville. MSU is 11-4 against ranked sides in 2011.
  • Midwestern State All America pitcher Brittney Tanner matched a Lone Star Conference record posting her 14th shutout of the season in a 1-0 victory over Minnesota State on Saturday night. She tied former Southeastern Oklahoma State standouts Starla Payne and Christina Cearley who accomplished the feat in 2000 and 2003, respectively.
  • The MSU pitching staff has been nothing short of spectacular during NCAA Division II Championship play as seniors Brittney Tanner and Kristina Gutierrez have combined for a stingy 0.33 ERA while allowing just one earned run over 21 innings as opponents have managed just seven hits for a .108 batting average against. The duo has combined to notch 27 strikeouts while issuing just two free passes.
  • The Midwestern State pitching staff has definitely come to play during NCAA Division II postseason play. Senior Kristina Gutierrez has posted a 3-0 mark with a 0.93 ERA in 22 2/3 postseason innings. The Pearland native has allowed a scant three earned runs on 13 hits while posting 20 strikeouts and seven walks. Fellow senior Brittney Tanner is 4-3 with a save while posting a 1.04 ERA in 47 1/3 innings. The Burkburnett High product has permitted seven earned runs on 30 hits with 65 strikeouts and nine walks. The opposition, which has included ranked clubs in nine of 10 games - is hitting a mere .173 against the duo.
  • Midwestern State senior first baseman Alyson Reynolds is the lone Mustang to collect a hit in each of the Mustangs' three games at the NCAA Division II Softball Championship. Her seventh inning single to right field drove in the winning run to lift MSU to a national semifinal showing Sunday against No. 1 Alabama-Huntsville. Reynolds is hitting .345 with a double and three RBIs during NCAA Division II postseason play.
  • Midwestern State sophomore center fielder Elena Bennett needs four hits to surge past former Angelo State standout Alexis Wing for the most hits in a single season in Lone Star Conference history. Bennett collected her 89th and 90th safety in a 30th multiple-hit game of the season Saturday afternoon against Indiana (Pa.). Wing notched 93 hits in 2003.

About the Chargers

Alabama-Huntsville (47-5-1) rolls into the national semifinals having won seven of its last eight games.

And the Chargers would have to do something it hasn't done all season to miss out out on a shot at the NCAA Division II title - lose two straight games.

UAH's potent batting attack is led by junior Stephanie Needham. The first baseman/outfielder from Trussville, Ala. is hitting .397 with 11 doubles and nine homers while driving in 45 runs.

She is just one of eight Chargers carrying better than .300 batting averages which also includes sophomore shortstop Kathryn Whitlock (.377, 6 2B, 4 HR, 41 RBI), freshman catcher/outfielder Mary Kelley (.376, 17 2B, 6 HR, 50 RBI), junior outfielder Kelli Long (.365, 10 2B, 5 3B, 7 HR, 32 RBI, 39 SB), senior catcher Krystal Johnson (.328, 9 2B, 1 3B, 3 HR, 30 RBI), sophomore outfielder Meagan Billingsley (.318, 9 2B, 2 3B, 5 HR, 30 RBI), sophomore third baseman Abby MacKay (.318, 13 2B, 6 HR, 34 RBI) and senior outfielder/first baseman Emily Roach (.317, 8 2B, 2 3B, 2 HR, 25 RBI).

The Chargers are strong in the circle led by a 20-game winner in freshman Whitney Toler (20-2, 1.63 ERA), while sophomore Whitney Gilbert posted a 15-2 mark with a 1.30 ERA.

UAH boasts the national saves leader in senior closer Alex Lewis as the hard throwing lefty has posted a 7-1 mark with a 0.68 ERA with 15 saves.
  
-- MSUMustangs.com --
Print Friendly Version

Players Mentioned

Elena Bennett

#6 Elena Bennett

OF
5' 8"
Sophomore
L/R
Kristina Gutierrez

#17 Kristina Gutierrez

P
5' 5"
Senior
R/R
Alyson Reynolds

#9 Alyson Reynolds

1B
5' 6"
Senior
R/R
Brittney Tanner

#25 Brittney Tanner

P
5' 7"
Senior
R/R

Players Mentioned

Elena Bennett

#6 Elena Bennett

5' 8"
Sophomore
L/R
OF
Kristina Gutierrez

#17 Kristina Gutierrez

5' 5"
Senior
R/R
P
Alyson Reynolds

#9 Alyson Reynolds

5' 6"
Senior
R/R
1B
Brittney Tanner

#25 Brittney Tanner

5' 7"
Senior
R/R
P