OKLAHOMA CITY – Top-seeded Florida and defending champion Oklahoma will meet in the 2017 Women’s College World Series Championship Series after picking up victories on Sunday afternoon at USA Softball Hall of Fame Stadium/OGE Energy Field.
The programs have won the last four national championships, but have never met in the championship series. Florida (2014 & 2015) defeated Washington, 5-2, while Oklahoma (2013 & 2016) rallied past Oregon, 4-2.
First pitch for game one of the series is set for Monday, June 5 at 7 p.m. ET.
Game 9 – Florida 5, Washington 2
Florida scored four runs in the first two innings and Delanie Gourley held Washington to two hits as the Gators (58-8) defeated the Huskies (50-14), 5-2 to secure a spot in the finals of the WCWS.
Gourley did not allow an earned run and struck out 10 to improve to 22-4.
Kayli Kvistad crushed a one-out solo home run in the top of the first to give UF an early 1-0 lead.
The Gators pushed their advantage to 4-0 courtesy of three-run, four-hit second. Amanda Lorenz knocked in the first run with a RBI single back up the middle. Kvistad made it 4-0 with a two-run single to right-center.
The Huskies took advantage of a two-out error in the seventh. After the miscue extended the inning, Julia DuPonte hit a two-run home run for the final 5-2 margin.
Kvistad finished 2-for-4 with three RBI and a run.
Taran Alvelo (35-9) suffered the loss lasting just 1.1 innings. She surrendered four run on five hits with three walks and a strikeout.
Game 10 – Oklahoma 4, Oregon 2
After Oregon scored twice in the bottom of the fifth, Oklahoma answered with four runs in the top of the sixth to earn a 4-2 win and advance to its second straight championship series.
Danica Mercado provided the Ducks (54-8) with a 2-0 lead by hitting a two-run home run in the fifth. The Sooners (59-9) wasted little time to rally.
Leah Wodach reached on a two-base throwing error after dropping down a two-strike bunt. Mendes drove in the first run with a fielder’s choice grounder up the middle. After a sac bunt moved runners to second and third, Shay Knighten delivered the go-ahead single with a bloop just beyond first base that plated both runners. Nicole Pendley added an insurance run with a RBI double to right field.
Paige Parker (26-5) picked up the win and improved to 8-0 all-time at the WCWS. She allowed two runs on five hits with four strikeouts and zero walks in five innings. Paige Lowary threw two perfect innings to record her NCAA-best 10th save, breaking the program’s career saves record in her first season.
Knighten and Kelsey Arnold each went 2-for-3. Knighten drove in two.
-- Image courtesy of Florida Athletics
