Top-ranked Florida wins, clinches SEC championship

Top-ranked Florida hit four home runs Saturday to make it look easy in a 9-3 victory over No. 12 Georgia.

The win clinched at least a share of the Southeastern Conference title for the Gators, prompting coach Kevin O’Sullivan to start speculating on his team’s potential in the NCAA postseason.

“I have enjoyed every single day watching these guys compete and how they have gone about it,” O’Sullivan said in comments posted on Florida’s athletics website. “It has been a professional approach and consistent.

“Their togetherness and comradery has been really special.”

“It is not easy to have a bullseye on your back all year. They have handled it with class and consistency. I’m looking forward to seeing how they will do in postseason.”

Florida is the defending national champion.

The Gators finished 52-19, including 5-1 in the College World Series, to win the 2017 title.

Many of the same faces from last year are powering the current squad, including JJ Schwarz, Nelson Maldonado, Jonathan India and Blake Reese, who all homered against Georgia.

Reese slugged a sixth-inning grand slam.

Records

Florida — 41-11, 20-6
Georgia — 34-15, 15-11