Angelo State vs. Texas Woman's Final Stats (.pdf) | Angelo State vs. Midwestern State Final Box (.pdf)

DURANT, Okla. – Senior Kaycee Taylor only had one hit during the Lone Star Conference Softball Tournament, but she made it count. Taylor roped a two-run, two-out single in the top of the seventh to give the Belles a 3-2 lead over Texas Woman's University Saturday at the Durant Sports Complex. No. 1 South Division seed Angelo State would go on to win the game by a score of 4-2, however, the Belles would fall to No. 1 North Division seed Midwestern State, 8-3, which ended the Belles' chances at a fourth consecutive LSC championship.

Back to back doubles by Texas Woman's (30-26) Tori Gomez and Katie Hines in the bottom of the second got the Pioneers on the board first, 1-0. However, No. 18 ASU (42-12) starter Jessica Newsome kept the game close as she went 5.0 innings and only allowed two runs, both earned, on six hits.

Trailing 2-1 heading into the seventh and final inning, Brittany Astle was hit by a pitch with one out. After reaching on a fielder's choice, Alix Dean represented the go-ahead run at second base. With two outs and a pair of runners in scoring position, Taylor stepped up to the plate and hit a two-out, two-strike pitch into leftfield scoring both Astle and Dean to give the Belles their first lead of the ballgame. Third baseman Elsa Apo drove in Taylor after she ripped a ground-rule double over the leftfield fence putting ASU up 4-2.

Claire Molina (22-5) picked up the win after tossing 2.0 innings of work and allowing just one base hit. She walked one and fanned three.

Kaylee Davis (8-9) suffered the loss after going 6.2 innings and surrendering four runs, one of which was earned, on nine hits. She walked two and struck out five in the contest.

The Belles struck first against No. 3 Midwestern State (47-9) as Astle led off the game with a solo shot to left-centerfield. However, the Belles' lead would not last long as the Mustangs took a 2-1 lead in the top of the second inning on four consecutive singles.

Angelo State would not back down and catcher Kacie Easley sent a line-drive over the left-centerfield fence to even the score at two in the bottom of the frame. Shana Tafiti followed and belted a home run of her own to leftfield as the Belles regained the lead, 3-2.

ASU starter Molina was in control of the game until the fifth inning when she surrendered a lead-off single to Mallory Mooney. Kim Jerrick reached on a fielder's choice in which Dean opted to throw to second to get the lead runner, but Mooney got to second safely putting runners at first and second with nobody out. After a sacrifice bunt moved both runners up a base, Alyson Reynolds tied the game with a single to left. Midwestern State took the lead on a Amanda Potysman suicide squeeze (4-3). The Mustangs added two more runs in the frame to increase their lead to three (6-3) on a sacrifice fly and a single.

The Belles were unable to pull out another come-from-behind victory and the Mustangs went on to win the game 8-3 after tacking on two more runs in the seventh.

Molina (22-6) absorbed the loss after allowing six runs, all earned, on 12 hits in 5.0 innings pitched. She did not issue a walk and struck out three.

Midwestern State's Brittany Tanner (27-6) earned the win after tossing a complete game and allowing three runs, all earned, on five hits. She walked four and fanned nine.

The Belles will find out their placement in the NCAA South Central Region Sunday night during the selection show.

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