SEASIDE, Calif.  --  In a softball game clearly tagged for "instant classic" status, Sonoma State used an Aubrie Tolliver single with the bases loaded to stun Montana State Billings 5-4 in 12 innings on Saturday afternoon at the NCAA West Regional in Seaside.  While Ancia Purdy hit her first career home run and a Amanda Llerena punched out a career-high 15 batters, it was Tolliver who again played the hero, lining a single through the left side to score Keeley Ray and send the Seawolves into Sunday's championship game.

The Seawolves are now in an enviable position.  With wins in their first two games, they will have to be beaten twice on Sunday to prevent them from advancing to the super regional against Dixie State. 

The win lifts the Seawolves' record to 41-19 on the season.  The 41 wins are the second-most in school history, behind only the 43-win 2010 season.

Sonoma State broke open a scoreless tie in the third inning when Purdy lined a two-run home run over the wall in right center field.  It was the first career home run for Purdy, the Seawolves' all-time hits leader.  

Just two batters after Purdy, Mayleen Mazon flexed her muscles as well, lofting a home run to right to make it 3-0.  

Behind the stellar pitching of Llerena, things were going smooth as the Seawolves were able to get to the sixth inning before the Yellowjackets broke through on a sacrifice fly by Taylor Hoke.  

Montana State Billings, a day removed from an incredible comeback that saw them use the long ball to rally from six runs down and knock off Cal State Monterey Bay, broke out the bats again in the seventh, tying the game on solo home runs from Emily Osborn and Heather Tracy.  Following Tracy's two-out smash, they had the bases loaded before Llerena struck out Brittney Sanders to limit the damage.

Both teams had multiple chances to go ahead and/or win in extra innings, but it would be the Yellowjackets striking first when Osborn hit her second home run of the game in the 12th to give her team a 4-3 lead.

On to the bottom of the 12th, the Seawolves quickly found themselves with their backs against the wall after the first two batters were retired.  Following a single through the right side by Purdy, the MSUB pitcher Jessyka McDonald, in apparent pain, was checked on by her coach and ATC.  Deemed well enough to go on - and again, just one out from the win - McDonald yielded a single straight back up the middle to Keeley Ray, allowing Purdy to go to third.  Again, the training staff came out and again McDonald was allowed to continue, but her pain was evident.  

McDonald gutted through a walk to Mayleen Mazon to load the bases before she was removed from the game, handing the ball over to Amanda Roark.  Roark proceeded to throw two balls, then hit Amanda Rossetta to force in a run and tie the game at 4-4.  

With the bases still loaded, Tolliver strode to the plate, just over 24 hours after her grand slam against Humboldt State in Friday's regional opener.  With the count full, Tolliver lined a single to left field, sending Ray home and setting off a frenzied celebration at home plate.  

See the game-winning hit, captured by @OtterAthletics here:  https://twitter.com/OtterAthletics/status/597153319606321152

While Sunday's opponent is yet to be determined, what we do know is that either Humboldt State or Cal State Monterey Bay will be eliminated on Saturday afternoon.  The winner of their game will face Montana State Billings, with that winner facing the Seawolves.  SSU needs one win to advance to the super regional, their opponent will need two.