CANYON, Texas — Midwestern State rallied from seven runs down to stave off elimination with an improbable 14-13 win over Texas Woman's then sent Metro State packing an 11-3 run-rule victory at the South Central Region 1 Championship Saturday at Schaeffer Park.

The Mustangs must now beat West Texas A&M two times on Sunday to claim their first regional title since 2011. The teams square off at 1:30 p.m. with the if necessary game following at 4 p.m.

The Lady Buffs advanced to the final by taking a 13-5 win over Metro State in the winner's bracket final earlier Saturday afternoon.

"We feel really confident right now," MSU coach Brady Tigert said. "All the girls are relaxed and having fun right now."

The Mustangs shook off a bad start as they committed errors on each of TWU's first three batters which resulted in an early four-run deficit.

MSU sophomore Katelyn Vinson launched her first of three homers for the day in the bottom of the first with a three-run shot to left-center field, but the Pioneers sent 11 hitters to the plate in a a six-run second inning to push the lead to 10-3.

The Mustangs narrowed the margin to 10-6 by scoring three unearned runs in the bottom of the third.

Texas Woman's tallied two more runs in the fifth and tacked on another to take a 13-6 lead into the bottom of the sixth.

The Mustangs turned to what it does best to get back into the game — hit the ball over the fence.

Senior catcher Kim Jerrick drilled a solo shot to left-center field to get the rally started. It was her 56th career home run to match the LSC career record originally set by former WT standout Kim LeComte.

Sophomore Haley Howerton followed with a double before Vinson launched her second homer of the game to pull MSU to within 13-9.

Kelley Schaefer sent a single through the left-side before junior shortstop Katy Vandewater hit her 17th homer of the season as the Mustangs narrowed the margin 13-11 heading into the seventh inning.

After shutdown inning, the Mustangs finished the comeback as Katelyn Potts led off the inning with a double and came around to score on Erin Knox's single to center field.

MSU loaded the bases as Jerrick walked and Howerton reached on a fielder's choice before Vinson sent a single to center field.

Jerrick and Howerton came plateward with the game winning tallies when Schaefer reached on an error.

The Mustangs wasted little time asserting control against Metro State, but once again the culprit was the long ball.

Vinson drilled a three-run homer in the first inning to give the Mustangs a 3-1 lead, then delivered a two-run double to highlight a four-run second frame to push the MSU advantage to six runs.

Potts blasted a solo shot to left-center field in the third, then Vandewater put the game away with a three-run shot in the fourth to give the Mustangs a commanding 11-1 lead.

Notables

- MSU senior catcher Kim Jerrick hit her 56th career home run to match former West Texas A&M standout Kim LeComte (2009-12) for the all-time LSC lead.
- MSU sophomore shortstop Katy Vandewater has hit a home run in five consecutive games. She is hitting .667 (14-for-21) with eight homers and 21 RBIs during a current 7-game hitting streak.
- MSU junior third baseman Kelley Schaefer extended her season-best hitting streak 11 games by going 3-for-5 against Texas Woman's and 2-for-3 against Metro State. She is hitting .588 (20-for-34) with four doubles, five homers and 13 RBIs during the stretch. Schaefer has multiple hits in each of her last five games.
- MSU sophomore outfielder Katelyn Vinson was 6-for-8 with two doubles, three homers and 10 RBIs leading the Mustangs to wins over Texas Woman's and Metro State on Saturday.
- Vinson's multiple homer game against Texas Woman's was the 10th time an MSU player has hit at least two home runs in a game this season.
- Sophomore outfielder Haley Howerton matched a team season-best by extending her hitting streak to 12 games. She is hitting .445 (20-for-43) during the stretch which includes seven multiple-hit games.
- The Mustangs have accounted for at least two home runs in each of their last seven games and in 11 of their last 12.
- Midwestern State combined for seven home runs in wins over Texas Woman's and Metro State on Saturday. The Mustangs set a school single-season record with 89 homers to better the 86 hit last season.