Heading into Florida’s first game in the Women’s College World Series Championship Series against Alabama on Monday, Aubree Munro had just two career home runs as a Gator.
That changed in the third inning.
Facing a 1-0 count against four-time All-American Jaclyn Traina, Munro hit a solo shot to left field to open up scoring at ASA Hall of Fame Stadium.
But behind a lights-out performance in the circle from Hannah Rogers, that one run was all UF needed as the Gators (54-12) took a 5-0 win over the Crimson Tide (53-12) in Oklahoma City to move one step closer to a national title.
“That’s one of the first pitches Traina threw inside and Aubree was on time,” coach Tim Walton said in a midgame interview with ESPN2. “(She) put a good swing on a good pitch.”
Rogers pitched her 12th shutout of the season and her sixth in NCAA play en route to her 30th win of the season. The senior right-hander faced two batters above the minimum, allowing just four hits and striking out three batters while not allowing a free pass on the night.
Outside of Munro’s home run, Florida struggled against Traina through the first four innings, striking out five times and going 0 for 2 with runners in scoring position.
“I don’t mind striking out,” Walton said, “but when we’ve got runners in scoring position, we’re going to have to put better swings on better pitches and just be tougher outs.”
Florida clicked in the fifth.
Kelsey Stewart reached on a two-out bunt single to give Florida its first base runner of the frame. Kirsti Merritt then drove her home with an RBI double down the left-center field gap, and Stephanie Tofft followed suit hitting a first-pitch RBI single to right field to give the Gators a 3-0 lead.
After Rogers surrendered her first hit of the game in the fifth inning — a leadoff single up the middle by Alabama second baseman Kalia Hunt — UF’s defense quickly took action, forcing a fielder’s choice and ending the frame with a 5-4-3 double play.
Munro tacked on another single in the sixth with a two-out bunt, but Taylore Fuller grounded to shortstop for the force out at second.
Stewart hit a leadoff single in the top of the seventh to bring her to 100 hits on the season — one shy of Michelle Moultrie’s single season record set in 2011. Merritt then laid down a bunt, reaching first base on a Traina throwing error while Stewart advanced to third.
After Merritt swiped her 15th base of the season, Tofft ripped a sacrifice fly to left field to score Stewart and advance Merritt to third.
Haeger closed the scoring and Traina’s night in the circle with an RBI double to bring home Merritt. Traina surrendered eight hits in 6.1 innings of work — one less than she gave up in her first 21 innings of Women’s College World Series play combined.
Alabama led off the bottom of the seventh with a leadoff single, but Florida erased it with its second double play of the night and its fifth since arriving in Oklahoma City for the WCWS.
With their backs against the wall, the Crimson Tide plated back-to-back two-out singles — giving Alabama its first runner in scoring position of the night — but the rally ended when Molly Fichtner grounded out to Kathlyn Medina.
The Gators can seal the deal tonight at 8, and Rogers will look for more of the same success.
“ (I’m) just (going to) keep locating my pitches,” Rogers said in a postgame interview with ESPN2, “and just keep staying low in the zone and working hard and using my defense.”
*A television broadcast contributed to this report
Follow Jordan McPherson on Twitter @J_McPherson1126
Hannah Rogers delivers a pitch in the third inning of Florida's 5-0 win against Alabama in Game 1 of the Women's College World Series Championship Series in Oklahoma City on Monday
