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Despite being shorthanded in the circle and dropping the first game of the series, the Florida Gators clinched a series victory to open SEC play at Texas A&M.

The Gators improved to 26-2 overall and open SEC play with a series win with a matchup against the nation’s second ranked team looming next weekend.

Game One:

Texas A&M 3, Florida 2

The Aggies took advantage of Florida miscues in the bottom of the seventh to clinch a walk-off victory to open the SEC slate for both team Friday night.

Texas A&M opened scoring in the second inning on a solo home run by _ Perez. The Gators response came from freshman Taylor Shumaker, who crushed a no-doubt home run to center to even the score in the fifth inning.

In the bottom of the inning, the Aggies loaded the bases with no outs. Perez hit a sacrifice fly to center to score one, but freshman pitcher Katelyn Oxley retired the side without additional damage.

Once again, the Gators proved resilient and evened the score on Kenleigh Cahalan’s solo shot to center.

Florida had a chance to take a lead in the top of the seventh with two on and two out, but A&M came up with a strikeout of Jocelyn Erickson to end the threat.

In the home half of the inning, Oxley quickly recorded the first two outs before allowing a single to _ Powell. A single by _ Barbara saw Powell race to third base, beating the throw from Falby, but Cahalan threw down to second in an attempt to end the inning but the throw sailed into the outfield allowing unearned run to score.

Oxley (3-1) took the loss despite holding the Aggies to just two earned runs in 6.2 innings of work.

Game Two:

Florida 12, Texas A&M 4 (6)

After dropping the series opener, the Florida Gators dominated the action on Saturday and took the game in run-rule fashion through six innings of play.

The Gators started the game on fire at the plate, scoring four runs in the first inning highlighted by Erickson’s three run blast. The Aggies would respond quickly, however, and plated two runs in the bottom of the first.

Florida put up crooked numbers in the fourth and sixth innings as well as they put the game into run-rule territory. Mia Williams hit a homer in the fourth that extended the lead to 5-2. Reagan Walsh crushed a pair of home runs in the latter innings of the game to ice it for the Gators.

Sophomore Ava Brown (6-0) pitched admirably through the six innings. She allowed just two earned runs and struck out five. In total, she hurled 118 pitches in the effort.

Game Three:

Florida 4, Texas A&M 2

The Gators clinched the series with a thrilling 4-2 win that saw Kara Hammock pick up her sixth win in the circle this season.

The Gators opened the scoring in the second inning when Erickson hit a solo home run to right. The Aggies counter-punched and plated a run on O_ Johnson’s RBI double. In the fourth, Kendra Falby singled to left with the bases loaded. After Cahalan scored easily, _ Shaw rounded third and headed home but fell more than halfway to the plate before being tagged for the final out of the inning.

Once again, the Aggies responded swiftly, this time with a solo homer from freshman _ Dement.

Mia Williams hit her second home run of the series in the sixth inning to put the Gators on top.

Florida got an insurance run in the seventh as Walsh hit a sacrifice fly with the bases loaded.

The Gators once again got a solid start in the circle as Oxley got her second start of the weekend. The talented freshman tossed four innings before head coach Tim Walton elected to utilize Hammock. Hammock (6-0) closed out the victory with three innings without allowing a hit.

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What It Means For Florida:

The Gators are the real deal and their depth played an important role this weekend against one of the top teams in the nation. Sophomore star Keagan Rothrock is unavailable due to injury and the Gators got solid outings from three pieces of the pitching staff. Additionally, they proved the can go punch-counterpunch with any team in the country offensively.

On Deck:

The Gators will take on UCF in midweek action on Wednesday (6:00 PM, SEC Network+) before the SEC home opening weekend against No. 2 Texas.