OKLAHOMA CITY --- Freshman Niki Williams hit her first home run in three months, and national player of the year Danielle Lawrie threw a six-hitter to lead third-seeded Washington to a 3-1 win over Georgia on the opening day of the Women's College World Series.

Williams broke a scoreless tie off a screwball that Christie Hamilton (24-9) left too high. It was only the third homer of the season for Williams, the No. 9 hitter in the lineup.

She hadn't hit one since Feb. 27, finishing the entire Pac-10 season without a homer.

"Any hit's great, and a home run's even better," said Williams, who was 3-for-16 in postseason play entering Thursday's World Series opener.

"It just gives her that much more confidence going into Friday, and that she can hit the ball. She has power and she definitely showed that today," Lawrie said. "She swings it."

Lawrie (38-7) made it stand up, striking out five to add to her NCAA-leading strikeout total of 477. Kimi Pohlman added an RBI single in the sixth inning for the Huskies (47-11).

Taylor Schlopy had an RBI double for sixth-seeded Georgia (44-11), which plays Missouri on Saturday in an elimination game.

ARIZONA STATE 7, MISSOURI 3

Arizona State's grounders kept bouncing and bouncing until the Sun Devils had taken the first step toward defending their title.

Jessica Mapes and Taylor Haro each had four hits as Arizona State (47-17) used an onslaught of singles to beat Missouri (50-11).

MICHIGAN 6, ALABAMA 1

Amanda Chidester homered and Teddi Ewing had three hits and two RBI to lead Michigan (47-10) past Alabama (52-10).

The Wolverines capitalized early on wild pitching by Kelsi Dunne, who last week became the first pitcher to throw back-to-back no-hitters in the NCAA Tournament. Dunne hit one batter with a pitch and walked two others to force in a run in the second inning.