SAN ANGELO, Texas – The late-season run by the St. Edward's softball team finally came to an end Saturday afternoon as they fell to #8 Angelo State, 5-3, in the championship game of the 2012 DII South Central Regional Tournament at the ASU Softball Complex.

St. Edward's (31-21) wasted no time getting on the board as they pushed across a run in the first inning. Miranda Yeager led off the inning with a single up the middle. After a sacrifice bunt by Meagen Bailey, Marissa Thome smoked a ground ball down the right field line to score Yeager from second and put the Hilltoppers ahead, 1-0.

Angelo State (47-9) came back in a big way, as they plated four runs in the bottom of the second inning. Deeshanalynn Tafiti led off the inning with a walk. Elsamartina Apo followed with a two run home run off of the scoreboard in center field for a 2-1 RamBelle lead. Angelo State got two more runs on a two-RBI single by Morgan Spearman to make it 4-1.

Both pitchers kept the batters in check until the fifth inning when RamBelle left fielder Lauren Smith homered to center field with one out to make it 5-0.

The Hilltoppers would not go down without fighting as they rallied in the sixth inning. Jenny Varteressian led off the inning with a single through the left side. With two outs, Brianna Bozon launched a two-run home run down the left field line to cut the deficit to 5-3. However, that is as close as the Hilltoppers would come.

Sarah Debrow suffered the loss, allowing five runs (three earned) on four hits, while walking four and striking out two in 4.1 innings of work.

The Hilltoppers lost for the first time while outhitting their opponents, as they had eight hits compared to just five for Angelo State. They had been 26-0 before this game.

The Hilltoppers will end their season with a 31-21 record and advancing to the regional tournament for the first time since 2009.