GAINESVILLE (Interstat) — Florida rallied from a five-run deficit with five runs in the eighth inning and scored on a walk-off single in the ninth to defeat Kentucky 7-6 on Friday afternoon at Alfred A. McKethan Stadium.

The game, originally scheduled for the afternoon, was delayed by weather and did not begin until 9:30 p.m. It marked the opener of a three-game Southeastern Conference series.

Kentucky jumped ahead early. In the top of the third, with the score 0-0, O. Jenkins singled and later scored on a double by S. Bell. After a walk to T. Bell, Luke Lawrence doubled to left center, driving in two runs to make it 3-0. In the fourth, Jenkins singled again and scored on a double by C. Cloud, stretching the lead to 4-0.

Florida got on the board in the bottom of the third when Cade Kurland homered to left field. But Kentucky answered in the seventh. With the score 4-1, Cloud singled, S. Bell singled and J. Tharnish singled to drive in Cloud. Lawrence then singled to bring home S. Bell, making it 6-1.

Kentucky starter Ben Cleaver worked four innings, allowing zero hits and one earned run while striking out three. Jack Sams followed with three scoreless innings, allowing no hits and striking out four. Sams exited after the seventh with a five-run lead.

In the bottom of the eighth, Florida began its comeback. With one out, McDonald doubled and advanced to third on a wild pitch. Owen grounded out to score McDonald, cutting the lead to 6-2. After a strikeout, Kurland reached on a wild pitch. H. Yost singled, and K. Jones walked to load the bases. Nick Adcock relieved for Kentucky, and Brendan Lawson doubled down the left field line, clearing the bases and scoring three, with an error on the left fielder allowing Lawson to advance to third. Lawson then scored on a wild pitch, tying the game at 6-6. Cyr doubled but was left stranded as the inning ended.

Florida’s Aidan King went 6 1/3 innings, allowing six hits and five earned runs with six strikeouts. Joshua Whritenour pitched a scoreless ninth for Florida.

In the bottom of the ninth, Owen doubled to right center with one out. Jackson Soucie relieved for Kentucky and struck out Stripling. Kurland was intentionally walked. After a pinch hitter, Kendall, walked to load the bases, Ryan Mullan came on to pitch. K. Jones singled to left field, driving in Owen for the walk-off victory.

Florida improved to 33-17 overall and Florida improved to 29-17. The two teams were scheduled to continue the series Saturday and Sunday.

Interstat’s game simulator had projected a final score of Florida 5, Kentucky 4. Interstat’s ELO system gave Florida a 54.40 percent probability to win. Florida had been installed as a pregame favorite with a spread of minus-2.5.