Oregon had to win against Oklahoma on Saturday if it wanted to stay in the Women’s College World Series.
After a scoreless first four innings, Oregon took a 2-0 lead that was turned on its head in the bottom of the fifth because of an Oklahoma comeback. The Ducks could not recover, losing 4-2 to Oklahoma in the WCWS semifinal.
In the top of the fifth, the deadlock was broken after Jenna Lilley singled, and senior Danica Mercado, who was 0-for-14 during the WCWS, lined a nearly head-high pitch over the right field wall to give the Ducks a 2-0 lead.
Oklahoma responded immediately with a go-ahead fourth inning that featured four runs, three hits and included an Oregon error.
Oregon went down in order in the sixth and seventh innings as Oklahoma held on with pitcher Paige Lowary coming into the circle for the last two frames.
It was a pitchers’ dual between Oregon’s Megan Kleist and Oklahoma’s Paige Parker for the first four innings. The Ducks did get runners on, and through four innings, they failed to score runners from scoring position in five attempts.
Oklahoma goes onto play Florida in the CWS Finals after the Gators beat Washington.
Follow Shawn Medow on Twitter @ShawnMedow