Oklahoma 4, Oregon 2

The Women's College World Series dream matchup is set.

Shay Knighten singled in two runs in the fifth inning to help defending champion Oklahoma beat Oregon on Sunday in the semifinals.

The Sooners (59-9) will play top-seeded Florida on Monday night to start the best-of-three championship series. The teams have combined to win the past four national titles, but are meeting for the first time in the championship series.

Oklahoma coach Patty Gasso has great respect for Florida's program.

"They're good, well-coached, very complete team," she said. "Again, we're going to have to play really, really well, give all we've got, and we're looking forward to it."

Paige Parker (26-5) earned the win and Paige Lowary got the save against Oregon.

The Ducks would have needed to beat Oklahoma twice on Sunday, and for a while, it looked like they might at least force a second game. Danica Mercado's two-run homer in the top of the fifth put the Ducks (54-8) up 2-0.

Oregon's Megan Kleist (21-4), who earned a win and a save in elimination games Saturday, took a shutout into the fifth against Oklahoma before unraveling.

Oklahoma got its rally started when Lea Wodach reached on an error. She bunted, and though the ball was moving towards foul territory, Oregon catcher Gwen Svekis picked it up and made an errant throw to first. Wodach ended up on second.

Oregon coach Mike White thought the ball went into foul territory, and he thinks there should be a way to find out.

"One thing I'd like to see going forward, and I think this tournament has really illustrated it, is the need for an instant replay, a need for the ability to make a challenge," White said. "There's been so many games decided by some calls that could have gone — I think were incorrect calls to be quite frank, and that made a big difference. This game is played at a high speed. Umpires are human. You should have the ability to challenge a call."

Pinch runner Raegan Rogers stepped in for Wodach and scored on a fielder's choice. Knighten then dropped the ball lightly into right field to score Nicole Mendes and Kelsey Arnold.

Knighten had hoped to make better contact.

"I'll take it," she said. "It worked. All I wanted to do was just put the ball in play, come into the right side, and just give my team a chance to score."

Nicole Pendley followed with a double to score Knighten and chase Kleist.

Lowary closed the deal with two perfect innings to claim her 10th save of the season.

Now, Oklahoma, the No. 10 seed, has the chance to defend its title. The Sooners view themselves as underdogs.

"They really are getting into their groove," Gasso said. "We've wasted about eight weeks of trying to figure this out, and I think we're making up for lost time, and they are relaxed, they're playing their best softball, they're having a blast. They don't want it to end."

Florida 5, Washington 2

Delaney Gourley was nearly perfect, giving Florida a chance for its third national championship in four years.

Gourley struck out 10 while throwing a two-hitter, helping the top-seeded Gators beat Washington.

Gourley (22-4) had two strikes on Julia DePonte with two outs in the seventh before DePonte hit a two-run homer for the Huskies (50-14). The two unearned runs were the first runs Florida has allowed in the World Series.

Gourley was fine with it. The senior was happy with Florida's win in her first World Series start.

"Today, to just come out and start a game — my team had my back," she said. "I was really excited. We were all really confident before the game. We just came out on fire."

Kayli Kvistad homered and drove in three runs for the Gators (58-8).

Florida scored four early runs against Taran Alvelo (35-9), who was pulled after recording four outs. Madi Schreyer gave up one run and two hits in 4 2/3 innings of relief, but the damage was done.

Florida's lineup, which has struggled at times this season, has scored 20 runs combined in three World Series games.

"Just to finally give our pitching staff some cushion and some breathing room really means a lot to our offense," Florida left fielder Amanda Lorenz said.

Gourley's performance allowed coach Tim Walton to rest ace Kelly Barnhill for an extra day. Barnhill, USA Softball's National Collegiate Player of the Year, hasn't allowed a run in 11 innings at the World Series. Another strong pitcher, Alesha Ocasio, hasn't even played in the World Series. It's an ideal setup.

"Now, it's up to the players," Walton said. "Our coaching staff does a really good job of preparing and putting that together. The players have to buy in. They have to be able to control their heartbeat on this stage."