HOOVER, Ala. – Bobby Boser belted a go-ahead home run and Hayden Yost added two extra-base hits as the Florida Gators rolled past the South Carolina Gamecocks 11-3 in their SEC Tournament opener Tuesday night at Hoover Metropolitan Stadium.
Florida moved to 38-19 and 16-15 in the SEC under head coach Kevin O’Sullivan. South Carolina dropped to 28-29 and 6-25 in conference play during Paul Mainieri’s first season.
South Carolina struck first in the top of the first inning, when designated hitter Jase Woita grounded into a double play, allowing Blake Jackson to score from third for a 1-0 lead.
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Florida answered in the bottom of the second. Shortstop Bobby Boser launched a three-run home run to center field, scoring Justin Nadeau and Landon Stripling to make it 3-1.
“I take a lot of pride in being able to lead this offense,” Boser said postgame. “I was just looking for a heater up in the zone—something I could get the guys going with.”
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Brody Donay padded the Gators’ lead with a solo home run to right field in the third, his 17th of the season, extending the score to 4-1.
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Later in the same inning, Hayden Yost drove an RBI double to right, scoring Blake Cyr and stretching the margin to 5-1.
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Ty Evans continued the rally in the fourth with a two-out RBI double to right-center, bringing home Brendan Lawson for a 6-1 Gators advantage.
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Florida’s bats didn’t cool off. In the fifth, Yost added another run with a solo home run to right-center, putting the Gators up 7-1.
South Carolina briefly rallied in the top of the eighth with RBI doubles from Kevin Scobey and Josiah Carrion, cutting the lead to 7-3. But Florida sealed the game in the bottom half of the frame, scoring four more runs on three hits, a walk, and an error.
“Anytime you can score right after your opponent, that swings the momentum back to your dugout,” said O’Sullivan. “That eighth inning was really important for us.”
Brandon Rowland earned the win in relief, tossing 3.2 innings with no walks and two strikeouts. Starter Brandon Barlow gave up just one run over 3.2 innings in a no-decision.
“We needed them to step up,” Boser said of Florida’s pitching staff. “They did their job.”
“You’ve got to have depth in this tournament,” Evans added. “Guys like Rowland and Rodriguez coming in and shoving—that’s what gives us a shot to keep going.”
Florida will face No. 7 seed Ole Miss in the second round of the tournament on Wednesday, May 21, at 7:30 p.m. EDT on SEC Network.
“We’re just excited about the opportunity to play Ole Miss tomorrow,” O’Sullivan said. “We’re a different team than when we faced them earlier this season—and they are too.”
2025 SEC Baseball Tournament Schedule
Tuesday-Sunday, May 20-25. Hoover Metropolitan Stadium, Hoover, Ala.
All Game Start Times Are Eastern Daylight Time
*Second Game Of Each Session Will Begin Approximately 30 Minutes After The Conclusion Of First Game
Tuesday, May 20 – First Round
Game 1: No. 9 Alabama 4, No. 16 Missouri 1
*Game 2: No. 12 Oklahoma 5, No. 13 Kentucky 1
Game 3: No. 10 Florida 11 vs. No. 15 South Carolina 3
*Game 4: No. 11 Mississippi State vs. No. 14 Texas A&M – Moved to May 21
Wednesday, May 21 – Second Round
Game 4: No. 11 Mississippi State vs. No. 14 Texas A&M – 9:30 a.m. – SECN
*Game 5: No. 9 Alabama vs. No. 8 Tennessee – 12:30 p.m. – SECN
Game 6: No. 12 Oklahoma vs. No. 5 Georgia – 4:30 p.m. – SECN
*Game 7: Winner Game 3 vs. No. 7 Ole Miss – 7:30 p.m. – SECN