PLYMOUTH — Wilton-Lyndeborough senior captain Sam Broderick pitched the game of a lifetime on Saturday at Plymouth State University.

So it was only fitting that she’d get the walk-off hit in the bottom of the ninth, too.

Broderick’s line drive up the middle drove in Andrea Heck to give the top-seeded Warriors a 1-0 victory over No. 3 Profile of Bethlehem for their seventh Division IV softball title and first since 2008.

In the bottom of the ninth, Heck reached base on a one-out single and stole second to put herself into scoring position. Following a Deanna Davidson strikeout, Broderick saved the day with the two-out liner on the first pitch she saw.

“It was a little scary coming up in that situation because the whole game I wasn’t hitting at all and I never, ever, ever swing at the first strike,” said Broderick. “But it wasn’t working for me today so I wasn’t taking any chances, especially going into extra innings. I just thought to myself I need to make contact somehow.”

The game was the definition of a pitcher’s duel. Both Broderick and Patriots starter Katelyn Austin went the distance, allowing just 10 combined hits throughout. Austin was a dominating presence in the circle, striking out 12 and allowing just the one run and zero walks. Broderick sat down six and allowed three walks, but she’ll take the victory and the 19-0 undefeated season.

“This year we played awesome,” she said. “Especially being undefeated, we couldn’t have done it without each other. We definitely worked as a team the whole time and as a whole there wasn’t anyone who outdid anyone else. It was a team effort and it worked.”

Broderick had two of the team’s five hits, while Heck added another two and Jenna Bradgon had the other. But combined with Broderick’s arm, it was the Warriors’ defense that led the way.

“We played great defense and that’s what’s good,” said Wilton-Lyndeborough head coach Dennis Claire. “(Broderick) isn’t the fastest pitcher, but she’s smart. Today was anybody’s game and we knew that before we got here. (Austin) is really a tough pitcher.”

Broderick isn’t a stranger to coming up big in tight spots. In the Warriors’ victory over Groveton in the quarterfinals, she got the clutch hit that gave Wilton-Lyndeborough the lead after trailing 1-0 heading into the final frame.

The loss unseated the Patriots (16-4) as Division IV champions. Profile had an opportunity to break it open after Broderick brought a no-hitter into the fifth, but started to fall apart and loaded the bases with no outs after Kayla Mardin broke up the bid. The pitcher, of course, got out of the jam and coasted through the final four innings.

“We hit some balls that if they had gone a few inches the other way we’d have gotten some runs in regulation,” said Profile coach Jim Ramsey. “(Broderick) is a good pitcher but I don’t think she outpitched Katie today.”

Marina Sellers and Kayla Mardin each had two singles, while Austin added the other Patriots hit.

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Pat DeCola may be reached at pdecola@unionleader.com.