Gators fall to Aggies in SEC Tournament championship game

HOOVER, Ala. – Texas A&M scored nine runs in the seventh and eighth innings to beat Florida 12-5 on Sunday afternoon and claim the Southeastern Conference Tournament title.

Back and forth throughout, Florida tied the game in the top of the third thanks to a Texas A&M miscue. After Nelson Maldonado singled to center, Dalton Guthrie reached after a throwing error by the shortstop. Maldonado scored on the play and Guthrie took second base on the errant throw.

Two batters later, Mike Rivera singled and Guthrie came home to tie the game.

Banks gave the Aggies the lead again immediately, launching a ball out to left field for his eighth home run of the season, but he was far from finished against the Gators pitching.

The Gators took their first lead of the day in the sixth inning. Jonathan India singled to lead off the inning and stole second base to move into scoring position. Danny Reyes, who has provided a spark during the tournament, singled up the middle to bring home India and give UF a 4-3 lead.

Back-to-back walks to Vasquez and Maldonado loaded the bases with one out. A RBI groundout from Buddy Reed pushed the Gators lead to two runs.

The Aggies regained the lead in the seventh inning, scoring four runs on three hits and taking advantage of a rare Florida error. The blows came via a two run double from Moss and Banks' second home run of the day, a two run shot to right field for a 7-5 lead.

Texas A&M blew the game open in the eighth, with five runs on four hits, including a bases clearing double from Moss. Moss finished 3-for-5 on the day with five RBI.

It is the first ever SEC Tournament title for the Aggies.

Recommended Videos



Both teams are expected to be national seeds for the upcoming NCAA tournament.  They will learn if they will host a regional on Sunday.