GAINESVILLE, Fla. (Interstat) — Aiden Sims scattered two earned runs without allowing a hit over five innings and the Texas A&M offense pounded out 15 hits Saturday to beat Florida 8-4 at Alfred A. McKethan Stadium.

The Aggies improved to 32-8 overall and evened the Southeastern Conference series after a 9-2 loss Friday. The Gators dropped to 29-15.

Sims struck out seven and allowed only two runners to reach base, both on solo home runs. He carried a no-hitter into the fifth inning before Florida’s Blake Cyr led off the bottom of the second with a homer to left field. The right-hander then surrendered a solo shot to McDonald in the fifth, but otherwise kept the Gators in check. Freshman Clayton Freshcorn relieved Sims in the seventh and threw 2 1/3 innings of one-hit ball, striking out three, to preserve the lead.

Texas A&M seized control early. In the top of the first, Gavin Grahovac singled to right field, but was caught stealing. The Aggies stranded a runner before Florida went down in order in the bottom half, striking out three times against Sims.

The Aggies answered Cyr’s homer in the top of the third. With one out, Harrison homered to center field to tie the game at 1-1. After a popout and a walk to Grahovac, Hacopian doubled to right center to score Grahovac and give Texas A&M a 2-1 lead.

The Aggies extended their advantage in the fourth when Nico Partida launched a solo homer to center, making it 3-1.

The pivotal moment came in the fifth. Kellner singled to right, and Grahovac followed with a two-run homer to center field, his second hit of the game, pushing the lead to 5-1. The Aggies loaded the bases later in the inning but did not add to the total.

Florida scratched back in the bottom of the fifth when McDonald homered to left center, cutting the deficit to 5-2. Sims finished his outing after that frame.

Texas A&M kept the pressure on in the sixth against reliever McNeillie. Partida singled, and after a fielder’s choice, Jorian Wilson singled through the left side to bring in Kiel II, making it 6-2. The Aggies loaded the bases again but could not score more.

Florida made it 6-3 in the bottom of the sixth. Surowiec walked, Cyr singled, and Bowen lifted a sacrifice fly to left field. Freshcorn entered and stranded runners at second and third.

The Aggies broke the game open in the eighth. Wilson, after a walk to Kiel II, crushed a two-run homer to right field off reliever LugoCanchola, extending the lead to 8-3. Texas A&M continued to threaten but left two aboard.

Florida mounted a small rally in the ninth. Stripling doubled off Freshcorn, and pinch-hitter Kendall singled to right to drive in Stripling, making it 8-4. But the Gators could not bring the tying run to the plate, as the next three batters were retired in order.

Grahovac finished 4 for 4 with a home run and two RBIs. Wilson went 3 for 5 with a homer and three RBIs. Partida added two hits and a solo shot. For Florida, Cyr went 2 for 3 with a homer and an RBI. Liam Peterson took the loss, allowing five earned runs on seven hits over five innings with five strikeouts.

The victory avenged Friday’s loss and kept Texas A&M in contention for the series win, with the rubber game scheduled for Sunday. The Aggies next host Tarleton State on Tuesday, while Florida travels to Oklahoma for a three-game set starting May 1.

Interstat’s game simulator projected a final score of Texas A&M 8, Florida 4, and its ELO system gave Texas A&M a 52.70 percent probability of winning the contest.