HOOVER, Ala. (Interstat) — Blake Cyr hit a solo home run and drove in four runs, but Georgia rallied from a four-run deficit to defeat Florida 8-7 on Saturday in the Southeastern Conference Baseball Championship at Hoover Metropolitan Stadium.

The third-seeded Bulldogs improved to 45-12, while the fifth-seeded Gators fell to 39-19. Cyr finished 3 for 4 with a home run and four RBIs. Caden McDonald homered and drove in three runs for Florida, which took a 7-0 lead after three innings. Georgia scored two runs in the fourth, two in the fifth, two in the seventh and two more in the eighth to complete the comeback.

The pivotal moment came in the bottom of the eighth inning. With the score tied 6-6, Georgia’s Henry Branch reached base on a throwing error by Florida third baseman. Slate Black followed with a double to left center, putting runners at second and third. Tre Phelps then hit a sacrifice fly to right field, scoring Branch to tie the game 7-7. D.J. Jackson followed with a sacrifice fly to left, scoring Black to give Georgia an 8-7 lead.

The Bulldogs’ bullpen held Florida scoreless over the final four innings. Justin Byrd pitched two perfect innings with two strikeouts. Caden Aoki allowed three hits and one earned run over three innings with three strikeouts. Zach Brown gave up one hit in 1 1/3 innings with three strikeouts.

Florida starter Russell Sandefer pitched a scoreless first inning but left after one. Jackson Barberi allowed two earned runs in 2 2/3 innings with five strikeouts. Ernesto Lugo-Canchola gave up one earned run in 1 2/3 innings. Joshua Whritenour surrendered one unearned run in 1 2/3 innings.

The Gators jumped out early. In the top of the first, Cyr homered to center field. In the third, Cyr singled to center, scoring two runs, and McDonald followed with a three-run homer to left, making it 7-0.

Georgia chipped away. In the fourth, Kenny Ishikawa singled, stole second and scored on a sacrifice fly. Branch doubled, Black doubled and the Bulldogs scored two more. In the fifth, Jackson doubled, moved to third on a single and scored on a wild pitch, cutting the lead to 7-4.

Ishikawa delivered the tying blow in the seventh. With runners on first and second, he doubled to left center, scoring Lujo and Jackson to make it 6-6.

Florida had a chance in the top of the seventh when Lawson doubled and Cyr singled him home, but the rally ended with a strikeout.

Georgia’s Ishikawa went 3 for 4 with two RBIs. Black doubled twice and drove in a run. The Bulldogs collected 12 hits while Florida managed eight. Georgia used five pitchers, with Byrd earning the win.

The game was a rematch of a regular-season series in April, which Florida won two games to one. The Bulldogs’ comeback marked their second consecutive win in the tournament after defeating Mississippi State in the opener. Florida had beaten Alabama and Vanderbilt to reach the title game.

No betting line was available for the championship contest.