Florida avoids sweep in series finale at Tennessee

Recapping Tennessee’s loss to Florida Sunday.

An eighth-inning three-run homer by Florida’s Kris Armstrong kept Tennessee from capturing a second Southeastern Conference sweep on Sunday.

Armstrong’s home run helped the No. 9 Gators erase a deficit against No. 4 Tennessee and salvage a game with a, 7-6, victory at Lindsey Nelson Stadium.

It was the first Sunday loss for Tennessee (27-6, 9-3 SEC) this season.

The game-winning home run came off Vols’ reliever Sean Hunley (4-2).

Florida took a 1-0 lead in the top of the second inning. Tennessee answered with a run when Liam Spence drew a walk with the bases loaded that plated Jordan Beck with the tying run.

Florida’s Jacob Young hit a two-run homer in the fourth to make it 3-1. The Vols also scored three times in their half of the inning as Logan Steenstra came home on a wild pitch when Spence drew a free pass.

Spence scored on a Florida error after Max Ferguson singled to make it 3-3.

The Vols took a 4-3 lead when Jake Rucker’s RBI groundout plated Ferguson. UT extended its advantage to 6-3 on a two-run homer from Connor Pavolony.

The Gators scored four runs in the eighth inning thanks to an RBI groundout by Kirby McMullen and Armstrong’s pinch-hit home run.

The Vols had the tying run on in the ninth.

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