Alabama Falls Victim to Red Hot Florida 13-3

HOOVER, Ala.— No. 4-seeded Alabama fell 13-3 to No. 5-seeded Florida in its opening matchup of the SEC tournament, eliminating the Crimson Tide, who now turn its attention to Selection Monday and a more than likely Tuscaloosa Regional.

Alabama starting pitcher Tyler Fay opened his start with a clinical first three innings, allowing a lone hit while picking up three strikeouts before running into trouble in the fourth and fifth innings. Fay exited with two outs in the fifth, his line closing with six hits, five earned runs, and five strikeouts.

After Fay departed from the game, the Crimson Tide deployed a slew of relievers, using six arms out of the bullpen, none throwing more than 1.1 innings.

Florida starter Liam Peterson turned in an excellent start for the Gators, scattering seven hits across five innings while striking out eight.

After three scoreless innings, the Gators jumped on Alabama in the fourth, courtesy of a Brendan Lawson solo shot to right-center. Two at-bats later, Florida doubled its advantage with another solo shot, this time off the bat of Ethan Surowiec, to lead 2-0.

Alabama nabbed a two-out Brennan Holt single in the bottom of the fourth, but Peterson induced a hard hit lineout straight to his third baseman to end the Alabama threat.

The Gators continued to pour it on the Tide in the fifth. Despite two early outs after a Karson Bowen lead-off single, Florida tacked on five runs in the fifth, primarily off the back of a pair of poor reads in right field by Brady Neal and an error by Justin Lebron, giving Florida a 7-0 lead.

The Crimson Tide pulled back a run in the bottom of the frame, as Brady Neal lifted a sac fly to center field to score Peyton Steele. 7-1, Florida.

Florida continued to threaten in the top of the sixth, loading the bases with one out, but Matthew Heiberger induced a 5-4-3 double play to keep the score at 7-1.

The Florida offense continued to hum in the top of the seventh, plating four runs to put the game in run-rule territory.

Alabama responded in the bottom of the frame to stay alive, pulling back a pair of runs thanks to a Neal two-run laser to right center field to cut the Florida advantage to 11-3.

Florida plated two in the eighth to bring the run-rule back into effect. Alabama was unable to respond, working a lone two-out single as the Crimson Tide fell 13-3.

Alabama returns to action next week in what is presumed to be the first Tuscaloosa Regional since 2023.

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