HOOVER, Ala. (Interstat) — Blake Cyr had four hits and drove in two runs, including a go-ahead two-run home run in the fifth inning, as Florida defeated Vanderbilt 8-3 in an SEC tournament game Wednesday at Hoover Metropolitan Stadium.

The Gators improved to 38-18 overall, while the Commodores fell to 33-24.

Florida struck first in the bottom of the first inning. Kyle Jones singled, stole second and scored on a double by Brendan Lawson. Lawson later crossed the plate on a groundout by Colby Surowiec, giving the Gators a 2-0 lead.

Hayden Yost extended the lead to 3-0 in the second inning with a solo home run down the right-field line.

Vanderbilt tied the game in the top of the fifth. RJ Austin walked and scored on a double by Chris Maldonado, and Maldonado came home on a triple by J.D. Rogers. That evened the score at 3-3.

Florida answered in the bottom half. Lawson walked and stole second. Cyr then launched a two-run homer to left field, putting the Gators ahead 5-3.

The Gators added two more runs in the seventh. After walks to Surowiec and Ashton Wilson, Justin Nadeau relieved for Vanderbilt. Pinch-hitter Dale Thomas grounded out, advancing the runners, and Brody Kurland singled up the middle to drive in both runs, making it 7-3.

Lawson capped the scoring in the eighth with a solo home run to right field, his third hit of the game.

Florida’s pitching staff limited Vanderbilt to six hits. Starting pitcher Aidan King worked 4 2/3 innings, allowing five hits and three earned runs while striking out five. Jackson Barberi followed with 2 1/3 hitless innings, striking out three. Ernesto LugoCanchola and Luke McNeillie each tossed a scoreless inning.

For Vanderbilt, Matthew Shorey pitched a scoreless inning with two strikeouts. Brennan Seiber allowed two earned runs over 2 2/3 innings. Jacob Faulkner recorded two outs without allowing a hit.

Cyr finished 4-for-5 with the home run and two RBI. Lawson went 3-for-3 with a home run, two RBI and three runs scored. Yost was 3-for-4 with a home run.

Vanderbilt’s offense was led by Rogers, who had a triple and two RBI, and Maldonado, who doubled and drove in a run.

The game was the first of the SEC tournament for both teams. Vanderbilt entered after an 8-5 win over Kentucky on Tuesday. Florida swept a series at LSU last weekend.

Interstat’s game simulator projected a final score of Florida 7, Vanderbilt 6. The ELO system gave Florida a 51.30 percent probability to win. Florida was installed as a pregame favorite with a spread of minus 1.5.