GAINESVILLE, Fla. (Interstat) — In a stunning season-opening upset, the UAB Blazers capitalized on a critical Florida error in the 10th inning to secure a 9-7 victory over the No. 6-ranked Gators on Friday night at Alfred A. McKethan Stadium.

The Blazers, projected by analytics to have just a 15.2% chance of victory, overcame a furious Florida comeback to win in extra innings, handing the Gators a rare opening-day loss.

UAB built an early lead with opportunistic offense. The Blazers scored two unearned runs in the first inning, one on a sacrifice fly by Logan Beaver and another on a Florida fielding error. They extended their lead to 5-0 in the third on a two-run single by A.J. Cheeseman and an RBI groundout by Brayden Waugh.

Florida, which out-hit UAB 10-6, began chipping away. The Gators scored two in the first, aided by two UAB errors, and added another in the third on a sacrifice fly by Jac Caglianone. The game turned dramatically in the bottom of the seventh inning. Trailing 5-3, the Gators erupted for four runs on five hits to take a 7-5 lead. The rally was highlighted by a two-run single by Colby Jones and an RBI single by Cade Kurland.

UAB responded immediately in the top of the eighth. Facing reliever Russell Sandefer, the Blazers loaded the bases with no outs. After two force-outs at home, Kobe Hall Jr. delivered a clutch two-run single through the right side to tie the game at 7-7.

After a scoreless ninth, the decisive 10th inning was defined by Florida miscues. With one out, UAB’s pinch-runner A.J. Hunt advanced to third on a throwing error by pitcher Jackson Barberi. Hunt then scored the go-ahead run on a fielder’s choice by Hall. An additional unearned run scored on an RBI groundout by Ashton Dupuy, providing the final margin.

Florida threatened in the bottom of the 10th, putting the tying run on base, but UAB reliever Riley Miller closed the door to seal the victory.

The most important sequence of the game was UAB’s two-run eighth inning, which immediately answered Florida’s four-run rally. Had the Blazers failed to score there, the Gators’ momentum would have been overwhelming. Instead, Hall’s game-tying single off Sandefer reset the contest and set the stage for the extra-inning victory.

Brendan Conner earned the win in relief for UAB, providing two scoreless innings after the Blazers lost the lead. Florida used five pitchers, with Barberi taking the loss after allowing two unearned runs in the 10th.

With the win, UAB begins its season 1-0. Florida starts 0-1. The teams continue their series with a doubleheader on Saturday.