GAINESVILLE, Fla. (Interstat) — Florida scored a walk-off victory Friday afternoon at Alfred A. McKethan Stadium, defeating Rider 8-7. The Gators improved to 40-19, while the Broncs fell to 33-18.

Florida struck first on Kyle Jones’ solo homer in the bottom of the first. Landon Stripling added a sacrifice fly in the fourth, and Jones singled in a run in the fifth. Stripling homered in the sixth, giving Florida a 4-0 lead.

Rider answered in the top of the eighth. Anthony Paskell crushed a grand slam, and Nick Shuhet followed with a two-run homer, putting the Broncs ahead 7-4. Florida responded in the bottom half when Caden McDonald homered and Cade Kurland added a two-run shot, tying the game 7-7.

Matt Leahy homered for Rider in the top of the ninth, giving the Broncs a 7-7 lead. In the bottom of the ninth, Brendan Lawson hit a walk-off homer to center field, securing Florida’s 8-7 win.

Pitcher Russell Sandefer tossed 5.2 innings, allowing two hits and no earned runs while striking out five. PJ Craig went seven innings for Rider, allowing four runs on zero hits with two strikeouts. The Gators outhit the Broncs 12-7.