GAINESVILLE, Fla. (Interstat) — The top-ranked Florida Gators rallied from a four-run deficit, capitalizing on a critical seventh-inning error to defeat the Florida A&M Rattlers 7-5 on Wednesday afternoon at Alfred A. McKethan Stadium.

The Rattlers, leveraging early Florida miscues, built a 5-1 lead through five innings against a Gators team that entered the game with a single loss. The comeback victory improved Florida’s record to 13-1, while Florida A&M fell to 3-9.

Florida A&M struck first with an unearned run in the opening inning. Sebastian Kresak struck out but reached on a throwing error by the catcher, later scoring on a double-play groundout by Joseph Monile. The Rattlers extended their lead to 2-0 in the second when Jan Figueroa doubled down the left-field line to drive in Jackson McKenzie.

The Gators answered in their half of the second. After a walk and a single, shortstop Sam Miller lined a two-run single to right field, cutting the deficit to 2-1. Florida A&M responded in the fifth, scoring three times on a combination of a bunt single, a throwing error by reliever Pierce Barlow, and run-scoring plays from a double play and an RBI single by McKenzie.

Trailing 5-2, Florida chipped away in the fourth. Dale Schwarz doubled to score Colby Stanford, and later scored on a single by Armando Cyr, making it 5-4.

The most important part of the game unfolded in the bottom of the seventh. Facing Rattlers reliever Clark Lincoln, the Gators loaded the bases with one out via two walks and a hit batter. Lincoln was relieved by Jackson McKenzie, who was promptly replaced by Cody Williams. Williams hit Stanford with a pitch, forcing in the tying run.

With the bases still loaded, Schwarz hit a sharp grounder to Williams, whose throwing error to first allowed two more runs to score, giving Florida its first lead at 7-5. Both runs were unearned.

From there, the Gators’ bullpen sealed the win. Caden McDonald earned the victory with 2 1/3 innings of scoreless, one-hit relief. After Ernesto Lugo-Canchola recorded an out in the eighth, Joshua Whritenour recorded the final five outs, including three strikeouts, for his first save.

Florida A&M out-hit Florida 9-8 but stranded eight runners and saw three Gators pitchers combine for eight strikeouts over the final four innings. Sam Miller led Florida’s offense, going 2-for-4 with three RBIs.

The game began at 6:32 p.m. under clear skies. The result defied the dominant pregame projections, as Interstat’s game simulator had predicted a 7-2 Florida win, and its ELO system gave the Gators a 90.9% probability of victory.

Florida opens a three-game series against High Point on Friday. Florida A&M returns home to begin a series against Villanova on Friday.