University of Central Oklahoma captures NCAA Division II Regional as Edwards stars
EDMOND, OKLA –“Wow, how does she do that?” asked University of Central Oklahoma Athletic Director Joe Muller after watching Kacie Edwards deliver a two-run single down the right field line in Sunday’s if necessary game (May 6th) of the NCAA South Central Division II Regional at Edmond North High School.
Muller probably wasn’t the only one wondering about whether Edwards, the UCO third baseman, could bat considering she had been ruled out for the rest of the season with a knee injury suffered in last Thursday’s regular season finale against Mid America Christian. The All-America candidate went down early in the first inning while going after a fly ball and was diagnosed with a torn ACL. But UCO coach Genny Stidham, the winningest coach in UCO softball history, apparently figured Edwards could swing the bat and inserted her in the DP spot for Ashley Noles in the second inning Sunday to give her team some offensive spark. And Edwards, UCO’s top hitter (.453) and RBI producer (69), didn’t disappoint Stidham and her teammates by hitting the first pitch in her initial at-bat—literally walking around the bases after doing so—for a two-run homer to put UCO into a 2-0 lead.
Catcher Nathalie Timmermans’ solo homer (22nd of the season) in the top of the third put UCO up 4-1 before the Hornets came roaring back, tying the game with three runs in the bottom of the third and adding two more in the fourth for a 6-4 lead. Timmermans had a run scoring single in the fifth to pull UCO within a run, 6-5, and it remained that way until the seventh inning.
Kayce Raines led off the inning with a single, Timmermans added another single and Megan Whitmire got aboard on an infield single to set the stage for Edwards, who laced a single down the right field line to give the Broncos into a 7-6 lead against a game never-say-die Emporia State team, which had handed UCO a 2-0 defeat earlier that day to force the second game. It was the first shutout suffered by the Broncos this season.
After Edwards’ go-ahead single, UCO added another run in the inning on Brittany Weaver’s run-scoring single to turn a 6-5 deficit into an 8-6 lead before senior pitcher Rachael Steverson (24-4) blanked the Hornets in the bottom of the seventh for her school-record 24th win of the season against four losses. Emporia State finished the season 42-11 under first year head coach Julie LeMaire.
“I knew our guys would do their job and get on base and I had to do my job,” Edwards said of her go-ahead hit.” You have to go up there with confidence and I did.”
Edwards said it was her decision to play. “Our trainer didn’t recommend me playing but it was my decision and he (UCO assistant trainer Michael Brobston) did a great job getting me braced up. I didn’t go in with any plan my first at bat. I just wanted to get a base hit. The first pitch was up and that’s where I like ‘em.”
Stidham, who now has a school record 420 career wins, praised her team which had three come-from-behind wins in the tournament. “This team refuses to give up. We never think we’re out of the ball game and they proved it again. It’s unbelievable what Kacie Edwards was able to do today on one leg and I couldn’t be more proud of a group of girls. It was an amazing game.”
UCO, now a school record 42-6, advances to the South Central Regional best-of-three finals against No. 7 Angelo State next weekend in San Angelo, Texas. Angelo State defeated St. Edwards University of Austin Texas, 5-3, in its regional final.
ODDS AND ENDS –Emporia State and UCO met seven times this season with the Broncos holding a 5-2 advantage. One of the Emporia wins was 15-14 on April 21st ending UCO’s school record 35 wins. UCO opened its season with consecutive losses to Angelo State 14-6 and 8-1. UCO’s other wins in the regional were 3-1 over University of the Incarnate Word and 2-1 over Emporia State, which finished the event 3-2. Emporia beat Abilene Christian 1-0 and 5-1 (10 innings) before Sunday’s championship round.
