While the postseason was in full effect for the UF softball and track and field teams nearby, the Gators were busy cementing their position for the start of their postseason run toward Omaha, Neb., site of the College World Series.
On Friday, the Gators clinched the Southeastern Conference East regular-season title, which automatically gave them the No. 2 seed in next week's SEC Tournament.
UF will play Wednesday at 11 a.m. against Arkansas in Hoover, Ala., in the opening round of the double-elimination tournament.
After splitting the first two games with Kentucky (28-26, 12-18 SEC), No. 13 UF took the final game of the series Saturday by a score of 13-9, giving the Gators momentum as they head into the postseason.
"I've always said that the first two (games) are really important, but that last one really sets the tone for the rest of the week," UF coach Kevin O'Sullivan said. "So obviously we feel a lot better going into Hoover."
After an early exit in last year's conference tournament &ndash UF lost its first two &ndash the Gators (38-18, 19-11 SEC) hope that this season will be different, but it won't be easy.
"This by far will be the toughest tournament we will play until we hopefully get the chance to go to Omaha," O'Sullivan said.
Earlier in the season, UF was swept by its first-round opponent, Arkansas, but freshman first baseman Preston Tucker feels the team has changed since then.
"We had a completely different team and makeup back then," Tucker said. "I think we can come out with a lot more confidence than the last time we played there because that was out first SEC road series."
He believes the first series between the two teams will give the team extra motivation.
"We are excited to play them because they beat us in the last series," Tucker said.
Although it was Senior Day on Sunday, but a freshman stole the show for the Gators.
UF scored early on Sunday to grab a 4-1 advantage, but Kentucky used a big fifth inning to take a temporary 5-4 lead.
After attempting to steal third base, Daniel Pigott jammed his finger, opening the door for freshman Tyler Thompson.
On his second at-bat in the fifth inning, he hit his first career home run to deep center field and drove in 3 runs.
"In my first at-bat I was sitting on a curve ball, and he gave me a fastball," Thompson said. "So then I just sat on a fastball the second time and he gave it to me."
He finished 4 for 4 with three RBIs and 3 runs scored.
"I'm seeing the ball really well right now," Thompson said. "I think it was two games ago that I started seeing the ball a lot better."
But the lead changes continued, as Kentucky scored 3 runs in the sixth inning.
However, UF broke the game open in the seventh and scored 4 runs with two outs.
Shortstop Mike Mooney singled up the middle to drive in the first two, and the next batter, Tucker, doubled to knock in another two runners.
After that, the Gators never looked back, as freshman Alex Panteliodis earned the win after coming out of the bullpen and pitching 1.1 scoreless innings.
