Florida wins Game 1 of WCWS

OKLAHOMA CITY - Hannah Rogers just keeps on rolling.

Florida's senior standout threw a four-hitter to help Florida defeat Alabama 5-0 in Game 1 of the best-of-three national championship series Monday night in the Women's College World Series.

The Gators (54-12) now are just one win from their first national title after runner-up finishes in 2009 and 2011. Game 2 will be played tonight.

Rogers took a one-hitter into the bottom of the seventh in the matchup of Southeastern Conference rivals.

She had a perfect game through four innings.

"I wasn't really aware of it," she said of the perfect start. "I just kept using my defense, and I try not to look up at the scoreboard too much unless I'm looking at the count."

Rogers has held opponents scoreless in 46 of her past 47 innings.

"I think Hannah was terrific tonight," Alabama coach Patrick Murphy said. "I think it's one of the best games she's played against us. It was just a continuation of her postseason."

Florida coach Tim Walton was fairly calm about the first championship series win in school history.

"You can tell by my voice that I'm not really very excited yet because there's really nothing to get excited about," he said. "We've won one game. It's a race to two in this series. We get that "W' tomorrow, you'll hear a different voice."

Jackie Traina got the loss for Alabama (53-12). She gave up five runs in 61/3 innings after having allowed just one earned run in her first three games during the World Series.

The Crimson Tide hadn't been shut out since Feb. 16, but they couldn't string anything together against Rogers, who was hitting her spots.