### Florida Gators Aim to Extend Winning Streak in SEC Tournament

The Florida Gators, ranked No. 15, enter the SEC Tournament with the longest active series winning streak in the conference. The Gators, boasting six consecutive series victories, will face the South Carolina Gamecocks in their first-round matchup at Hoover Metropolitan Stadium.

The Gators' impressive record of 37-19 overall and 15-15 in the SEC positions them as the 10th seed, whereas the Gamecocks stand as the 15th seed with a 28-28 overall record and a 6-24 mark in SEC play. This game, marking the fourth meeting between the teams this season, follows Florida's dominant sweep of South Carolina earlier this year, with scores of 9-5, 22-3, and 8-0.

Florida has battled through a challenging season, turning a disastrous 2-10 SEC start into a compelling case for hosting an NCAA Regional. Their resurgence over the last 18 conference games includes a far more effective pitching staff, cutting their ERA to 3.76, and a potent offense that now slashes .296/.406/.500.

Significantly, Florida’s turnaround includes wins in 17 of their last 22 regular-season games and an impressive sweep against South Carolina, their first in Columbia since 1996. This sweep also gave Florida its first lead in the head-to-head series since 2021. The Gators' dramatic mid-season improvement has also propelled them back into national rankings.

Under the guidance of their head coach, who boasts a career record of 35-24 against the Gamecocks, the Gators have revolved their fortunes, achieving eight comeback victories and outscoring opponents significantly.

Heading into the tournament, the Gators are excelling in various statistical categories on a national scale, including a standout fifth-place position for strikeouts per nine innings (11.7). Their accomplishment of five shutouts ranks among the top in the SEC.

Having secured a victory against top-ranked teams and is prominently featured across multiple polls, the Gators' performance has solidified their status as a formidable contender heading into the postseason.