GAINESVILLE, Fla. - No. 18 Alabama (40-14, 16-13 SEC) defeated No. 23 Florida (36-19, 14-15 SEC) 9-6 in game two, evening the series and setting up a rubber match game three.

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Florida jumped ahead early in this one with the Gators scoring two runs in the first two innings of the game. Brody Donay’s RBI single to center field brought home the first run of the game, making it 1-0 going into the second inning, which saw Florida score another run. This time, Bobby Boser came away with an RBI to center field, giving the Gators a two-run lead going into the third inning. 

In the third inning, Alabama scored two runs, tying the game at two. This came after a sacrifice fly from star shortstop Justin LeBron and an RBI single from team captain Kade Snell, who has been on fire lately with a batting average of .381. Their efforts erased the Gators’ two-run deficit.

Riley Quick (8-2) settled in following the second inning with the Tide’s starting pitcher not allowing another run throughout the rest of his start, which saw him record seven strikeouts and allow six hits throughout five innings pitched in Friday’s game two win.

In the top of the fifth inning, the Tide had a significant offensive breakthrough, scoring five runs largely due to the Gators' erratic pitching. Florida issued three walks to Alabama batters and hit Will Hodo with a pitch, which loaded the bases. Richie Bonomolo Jr. capitalized on the situation, driving in two runners after Florida’s shortstop committed an error, allowing an additional run to score. This made the game 4-2, giving the Crimson Tide its first lead of the contest.

The damage the Tide inflicted in the fifth inning continued with Brady Neal stepping up for the Crimson Tide. He hit a double to left center field, driving in three runs and boosting the Tide's lead to 7-2 over the Gators as they headed into the bottom of the fifth inning.

Quick took over the bottom of the fifth inning with the redshirt sophomore striking out three batters in the inning to leave a runner stranded at first base. 

The Crimson Tide’s reliever Braylon Myers checked in to replace Quick on the mound in the bottom of the sixth inning, which saw the right-handed pitcher go on to force the Gators to go 1-2-3 for two straight innings with Myers picking up three strikeouts in that span.

LeBron reached home on a sac fly from Richie Bonomolo Jr. for the center fielder’s second RBI of the night. Two at-bats later, and the Crimson Tide’s first baseman, Will Hodo, jacked a solo home run over left field to make it 9-2 going into the bottom of the ninth inning. This was Hodo's 14th home run of the season. 

Carson Ozmer, who checked into the game in the eighth inning to replace Myers as the closer, went on to record two strikeouts as he held the Gators scoreless in the eighth inning but allowed the Gators to score four runs in the bottom of the ninth when Boser doubled down the left-field line to drive home two runs for his third RBI of the contest, which made it 9-4 with runners on second and third base with only one out. 

The Gators went on to score again thanks to a sacrifice fly out to center field by Brendan Lawson to bring home the runner from third base, making it 9-5. Florida’s Ty Evans’ single went out to right center field to drive home another run, making it 9-6. The Gators catcher went on to foul out to Hodo at first base for the final out of the game, with the Tide curbing Florida’s last inning comeback attempt.

Stat Leaders

• Runs- Justin Lebron and Will Hodo
• RBIs- Brady Neal (3) 
• Strikeouts- Riley Quick (7)

Alabama will pick up its 40th win of the season and its 16th conference win of the season to set the Tide up nicely to host a regional. If the Crimson Tide can secure the series in game three tomorrow at 3 p.m., then Alabama will be a near-definite lock to host a regional.

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