NCAA Softball World Series 2017: Florida, Oklahoma Earn Crucial Wins on Friday

After a busy opening day at the 2017 NCAA Women's College World Series, things calmed down on Friday with two games from the winner's bracket. 

SEC rivals LSU and Florida square off in one game, followed by Oklahoma and Washington with the winners earning a day off and Saturday knowing they will be one victory away from a trip to the championship series. 

Oklahoma is the defending champion. Florida won back-to-back titles in 2014-15 and had its reign come to an end after being upset by Georgia in the super regionals last year. 

2017 NCAA Softball World Series Scores

Game 5: Florida def. LSU, 7-0

Game 6: Washington vs. Oklahoma (9:45 p.m. ET)

Results

Florida 7, LSU 0

Florida's dominance in the 2017 NCAA tournament shows no signs of slowing down after earning a second consecutive shutout, knocking off LSU 7-0. 

Kelly Barnhill remains an unstoppable force on the mound for the Gators. She threw four shutout innings against Texas A&M on Thursday, then followed that up with a two-hit complete game against LSU that dropped her season ERA to a dazzling 0.34. 

The freshman didn't do it own her own, as Aleshia Ocasio made a terrific play to get the second out of the second inning with an LSU runner on third base. 

LSU starter Carley Hoover did a good job of keeping Florida's lineup at bay until the fourth inning. Chelsea Herndon finally got the Gators on the board thanks to Chelsea Herndon's two-run double. 

With the score 3-0 heading into the seventh, Florida finally broke things wide open with four runs. 

Having an extra day of rest tomorrow will give Barnhill time to catch her breath before attempting to give Florida a spot in the championship series on Sunday. 

Oklahoma 3, Washington 1

Oklahoma moved one step closer to repeating as Women's College World Series champions Friday when they dispatched the Washington Huskies to claim a spot in the semifinals. 

The showdown was something of a defensive duel considering the two sides combined for eight hits, but Oklahoma had just enough pop at the plate to get things done. 

Fale Aviu and Lea Wodach each notched an RBI to give the Sooners a 2-0 cushion through five innings, and third baseman Sydney Romero provided a clutch solo home run in the top of the sixth to expand the Sooners' edge. 

"

Sydney Rombero blasted a homer to help lift @OU_Softball past Washington! #WCWS pic.twitter.com/GhmfKEq5pk

— NCAA Softball (@NCAAsoftball) June 3, 2017"

Sooners pitcher Paige Parker also deserves major credit for striking out six and allowing just three hits in 6.1 innings before Paige Lowary slammed the door shut on Washington's final two batters. 

The Huskies will now face either UCLA or Texas A&M in an elimination game on Saturday.