Top-seeded Tennessee won the Southeastern Conference Tournament Sunday.
The Volunteers (53-7) led early, but had to withstand a late rally to outlast No. 7 Florida (39-22), 8-5, at Hoover Metropolitan Stadium in Hoover, Alabama.
Tennessee won its first SEC Tournament championship since 1995 and became the first school to win conference tournaments in both baseball and basketball in the same season.
The Vols scored four runs in the fifth inning. Seth Stephenson drove in a run with a bunt single, while Drew Gilbert hit a three-run double.
Tennessee extended its advantage to 7-0 in the sixth inning. Luc Lipcius hit a two-run double and Stephenson hit a scoring double.
The Gators scored three runs in the eighth inning.
Gilbert, who went 2-for-5 with four RBIs and one run, hit a solo home run in the ninth inning.
Florida scored twice in the ninth inning.
Stephenson, the Vols’ leadoff hitter, went 3-for-5 with two RBIs and two runs.
Camden Sewell (7-1) pitched five scoreless innings. He allowed six hits and recorded one strikeout.
Will Mabrey, Mark McLaughlin, Ben Joyce, Zander Sechrist, Kirby Connell and Redmond Walsh appeared in relief for Tennessee.
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