Kacie Edwards belted a double in the top of the ninth, sending in two runs, and putting the Bronchos back on top, this time for good.
Central defeated Kutztown, 5-2, in extra innings and will bring the first NCAA Division II Softball Championship back to Edmond.
The Bronchos finished 2013 at 51-11, a school record for wins.
Kalynn Schrock, who was the winning pitcher and the tournament’s MVP, also set a school record for wins at 34. She won nine consecutive games in the Division II tournament, pitching nine complete games, including nine innings in the final one.
Edwards’ RBI double in the ninth was also scary for the Golden Bears. Center fielder Jackie Hetzler and right fielder Morgan Booth collided trying to make the play late in the game. The game had to be stopped as the two were tended to on the field. Kutztown seemed rattled after that.
It was a tight contest throughout with quality pitching. Neither team scored more than one run in an inning until the Bronchos’ outburst in the ninth.
UCO coach Genny Stidham said she felt like it had been a roller coaster ride.
“We were one strike away from taking it home and then we let them get back in the ball game,” Stidham said.
“Like this team does in fashion, they came back and got a few more runs in the fourth quarter so she (Schrock) could shut them back out.”