NCAA SOFTBALL CHAMPIONSHIP Dedmon's pinch hit delivers UCLA crown

The freshman's two-run single in the fifth snapped a 1-1 tie for a 3-1 win.
OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) -- Kristen Dedmon hadn't had an at-bat in more than two weeks. She hadn't driven in a run in a month. The 19-year-old freshman didn't know exactly what she was getting into before delivering the biggest hit of UCLA's season.
Dedmon drove in the go-ahead runs with a pinch-hit, two-run single with two outs in the fifth inning Monday, and the Bruins went on to beat California 3-1 for their second straight NCAA softball championship.
The Bruins (47-9) won their 10th NCAA championship and became the first team to win back-to-back championships since Arizona in 1996-97.
Dedmon said she had been swinging her bat near the outfield to get ready in case coach Sue Enquist called on her in the fifth. When it came time, she threw off her visor, put on a helmet and stepped to the plate, not entirely aware of the pressure.
She wasn't aware
"I didn't know there were two outs," Dedmon said, with a smile and a laugh.
Claire Sua, who hit a towering homer to tie the game earlier in the inning, said Dedmon's lack of awareness was for the best.
"She honestly didn't have time to think, 'Oh, no, this is pressure; oh, no this is a close game,' " Sua said. "She didn't really have time to doubt. As a hitter, you want to have a clear head. You don't want to think about anything."
Keira Goerl (31-7), who pitched a nine-inning no-hitter as UCLA beat California 1-0 in last year's title game, wasn't nearly as dominant this year. She allowed seven hits in becoming only the third pitcher to win back-to-back championship games. Arizona's Susie Parra in 1993-1994 and UCLA's Debbie Doom in 1984-85 also accomplished the feat.
Making its third straight appearance in the title game, California (53-13) was up 1-0 and pitcher Kelly Anderson (25-9) was perfect through four innings.
Leading off the fifth, Sua hit Anderson's first pitch over the left-center field wall to tie the score at 1.
Anderson hit the next batter, Stephanie Ramos, in the back and walked Jodie Legaspi on six pitches before being replaced by Kristina Thorson. Amanda Simpson pinch-ran for Ramos, Tara Henry pinch-ran for Legaspi and Emily Zaplatosch bunted them both up a base.
After Michelle Turner struck out looking, UCLA's No. 9 hitter, Julie Hoshizaki, was due up. Enquist turned to Dedmon, who hadn't played since May 15 and hadn't driven in a run since April 18.
Dedmon hit a 1-1 pitch from Thorson to center.