HOOVER, Ala. (Interstat) — Vanderbilt scored four runs in the sixth inning to erase a three-run deficit and added three more in the eighth to defeat Kentucky 8-5 in the Southeastern Conference baseball tournament Tuesday afternoon.

Right-hander Alex Kranzler pitched 4 1/3 innings of one-hit relief to earn the win for the Commodores, who improved to 33-23 overall. Kranzler struck out five and allowed only one run. He lowered his earned run average to 0.00 over his last three appearances, covering 8 1/3 innings.

Kentucky, which fell to 31-21, took a 4-1 lead into the bottom of the sixth behind solo home runs from shortstop Tyler Bell and right fielder Carson Hansen, plus a run-scoring double from second baseman Luke Lawrence. Bell went 2 for 4 with a homer and an RBI, Hansen also had two hits including a homer, and Lawrence was 2 for 3 with two RBIs.

Wildcats starting pitcher Jaxon Jelkin worked 5 2/3 innings, allowing no hits but four earned runs due to walks and defensive miscues. He struck out four and left with a 4-1 lead before the Commodores broke through.

The decisive inning began with a walk to Luke Johnston and a single by Jonathan Goodin. Camden Waite singled up the middle to score Johnston, and Rustan Rigdon followed with an RBI single that plated Goodin. Jace Barczi singled through the left side to drive in Waite, and a throwing error by Kentucky third baseman on a ground ball by Hayden Reynolds allowed Rigdon to score, tying the game 4-4. Vanderbilt added another run on the error to take a 5-4 lead.

Kentucky tied the game in the top of the seventh with a single by Owen Jenkins, but the Commodores regained control in the eighth. Rigdon singled, stole second and third, and scored on a throwing error by Kentucky catcher. Reynolds singled and Brodie Johnston followed with a two-run homer to left field, giving Vanderbilt an 8-4 lead.

Johnston finished 2 for 4 with a homer and three RBIs. Rigdon also had two hits and an RBI. For Kentucky, Bell and Hansen each homered, and Lawrence drove in two runs.

Right-hander Connor Fennell started for Vanderbilt and allowed seven hits and four earned runs over 4 2/3 innings, striking out five. Jack Sams pitched 1 2/3 innings for Kentucky, allowing two earned runs on no hits, and Nile Adcock allowed one earned run in two-thirds of an inning.

Kentucky had eight hits and committed two errors. Vanderbilt had 12 hits and one error.

The game was the fourth meeting between the teams this season. Vanderbilt had won two of the previous three, including a 13-6 victory on April 19. The Commodores also won 8-7 on April 18, while Kentucky won 5-2 on April 17.

Vanderbilt advanced in the tournament while Kentucky fell into the losers’ bracket.

Interstat’s game simulator projected a final score of Vanderbilt 6, Kentucky 5, and its ELO system gave the Commodores a 52.60 percent probability to win.