Women’s College World Series 2017 scores: Florida, Oklahoma advance to semifinals

The Florida Gators are moving on in the 2017 Women’s College World Series.

The top-ranked Gators continued their dominant run through the series with a 7-0 win over No. 13 LSU. Kelly Barnhill had yet another strong performance, going the distance with a two-hit shutout and striking out eight batters. Barnhill has yet to allow a single run in the World Series, having also blanked Texas A&M in a four-inning outing on Thursday.

The Gators held a 2-0 lead for most of the game before sealing the deal with a four-run outburst in the seventh inning. Kayli Kvistad and Janell Wheaton both had a home run and two RBI apiece to pace the Gators’ offense.

Florida advances to the semifinal round, where it awaits either Texas A&M, UCLA, or Washington on Sunday.

The late night game was defined by more dominant pitching. Behind the arm of Paige Parker, No. 10 Oklahoma stifled No. 6 Washington in a 3-1 win. Parker took a one-hit shutout into the sixth inning before an Ali Aguilar home run finally got the Huskies on the board.

Washington attempted a last-minute rally in the bottom frame, getting the tying run to the plate with one out. Paige Lowary came in to relieve Parker and got the final two outs, sending the defending champion Sooners on to the semifinal round.

Parker finished the night with six strikeouts, three hits, and one earned run in 6 ¹⁄₃ innings. Fale Aviu, Sydney Romero, and Lea Wodach each drove in a run to account for the Sooners’ offense.

Taran Alvelo got the start for Washington and had six quality innings, but a couple of defensive gaffes made the difference. Alvelo ended her outing with three runs (one unearned), five hits, one strikeout, and one walk in six innings.

Oklahoma gets a day off before resuming play Sunday. The Sooners’ opponent will be either Oregon, Baylor, or LSU, depending on how things shake out on Saturday. Washington has one more chance to save its tournament life, facing either UCLA or Texas A&M late on Saturday night.

No. 1 Florida 7, No. 13 LSU 0
No. 10 Oklahoma 3, No. 6 Washington 1