Florida and Kentucky traded punches for much of the first half of Sunday's series-deciding finale.
UF scored six combined runs in the first two innings of the game.
The Wildcats countered with four combined of their own in innings two and three.
UK tied the game at 8-8 in the top of the fifth, but Florida answered. It scored four runs combined in the fifth and sixth innings to take the lead, and shut down Kentucky's bats in the second half of the game.
The Gators held their opponent to three hits after the fifth, winning the game 12-8 and clinching the series at Alfred A. McKethan Stadium.
UF (28-18, 9-12 SEC) was off and running in the first inning, as designated hitter Nelson Maldonado blasted his eighth home run of the year, scoring left fielder Austin Langworthy to give his team a 2-0 lead.
The Wildcats (22-22, 5-16 SEC) tied the game in the bottom of the second with a long ball of their own.
First baseman Dalton Reed took UF starter Nick Blasucci deep over the right-field fence to quickly erase the home team's two-run advantage.
In the bottom half of the inning, Florida broke the tie and chased Kentucky starting pitcher Mason Hazelwood in the process. It scored four runs on three hits to take a 6-2 lead.
Langworthy plated two with an RBI triple that allowed shortstop Brady McConnell and center fielder Jud Fabian to score.
Later on in the inning, Maldonado and catcher Brady Smith each recorded RBI singles.
Langworthy went 3 for 4 on Sunday, driving in three runs. Maldonado and Smith combined to go 4 for 6 with two home runs and six RBIs.
As the contest entered the fifth, UF held a comfortable 8-4 lead.
That lead quickly evaporated after the Wildcats got to Florida relievers Justin Alintoff and David Luethje, scoring four runs to tie the game.
UK catcher Coltyn Kessler picked up his third RBI of the game on a single. Center fielder Cam Hill doubled to drive in two, then Reed tied it up on a sacrifice fly that scored third baseman Breydon Daniel.
The Wildcats wouldn't score again, however, after Florida coach Kevin O'Sullivan made the decision to bring in pitcher Christian Scott.
Scott pitched UK into a dry spell, throwing 4.1 innings of scoreless baseball while surrendering just three hits. He earned himself his fifth win on the year after.
"The freshmen have just been a little bit inconsistent, so for him to bounce back and throw like that for the last four-plus innings was big for us," O'Sullivan said in a release. "When our offense scores, we've got to go out and put a zero on the board. Christian was able to do that."
Follow Evan Lepak on Twitter @evanmplepak and contact him at elepak@alligator.org.
Austin Langworthy's big day at the plate helped UF win Sunday's rubber game against Kentucky.
