For six innings, Florida baseball had a lone home run for its offense. But from the seventh inning on, the Gators bats came alive as they knocked off Alabama, 7-2.

The Gators scored three runs in the seventh inning punctuated by a solo home run to left field from Jacob Young. That followed a bloop RBI also to left field by Cory Acton.

On the mound, Franco Aleman had a strong outing for the Gators with seven shut out innings as he allowed five hits and struck out four with one walk. He was backed by six Gators who each had at least two hits. The Gators were paced by Sterlin Thompson, who was 3-for-4 with a double, RBI, and two runs scored. Young was also 3-for-5.

Alabama’s Dylan Smith went seven innings and gave up four runs on nine hits with six strikeouts.

Because of expected weather that could disrupt the schedule, the Friday game times have been changed.

In the fourth round of the double elimination format, Alabama is scheduled to play Tennessee at 11 a.m. ET on Friday, while the other game on Friday is set for 2:30 p.m. ET between Ole Miss and the Arkansas-Vanderbilt loser. Florida will have Friday off before resuming action at 1 p.m. ET on Saturday.

Franco is HYPED 😤

The big man with a career-high seven innings – all scoreless.

UF 4, UA 0 | E7#GoGators | Watch: https://t.co/LK3QJWwUEu pic.twitter.com/7IRBa3n9on

— Florida Gators Baseball (@GatorsBB) May 27, 2021

Keith Farner

A former newspaper veteran, Keith Farner is a news manager for Saturday Down South.