Florida Gators Defeat Auburn Tigers in Game 3 Rubber Match

Gators win 10th SEC series in last 12 with victory over Tigers

Apr. 18, 2026 at 3:57pm

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A cubist, geometric painting depicting a baseball game in motion, with overlapping shapes and planes of bright orange, blue, and green representing the dynamic action on the field.The Florida Gators' series-clinching victory over the Auburn Tigers showcases the team's competitive spirit and talent on the diamond.Gainesville Today

The No. 7 Florida Gators baseball team defeated the sixth-ranked Auburn Tigers 4-2 in the rubber match of their three-game series on Saturday in Gainesville. Junior right-hander Russell Sandefer got the start for the Gators, going up against Auburn's Alex Petrovic. The win gives Florida its 10th SEC series victory in its last 12 matchups.

Why it matters

This series win over a top-10 opponent is a significant boost for the Gators' postseason hopes as they look to secure a high seed in the SEC Tournament and NCAA Tournament. The Gators have been one of the top teams in the conference all season and this victory over a fellow ranked foe solidifies their status as one of the teams to beat in the SEC.

The details

The Gators jumped out to an early 2-0 lead and never relinquished it, holding on for the 4-2 victory. Sandefer pitched 5.1 innings, allowing just two runs on five hits while striking out six. The Gators' offense was led by center fielder Kyle Jones, who went 2-for-4 with a run scored, and catcher Karson Bowen, who drove in two runs.

  • The game was played on Saturday, April 18, 2026 at 12 p.m. ET.
  • This was the rubber match of the three-game series between the Gators and Tigers.

The players

Russell Sandefer

The junior right-hander for the Florida Gators, who got the start and pitched 5.1 innings, allowing two runs on five hits while striking out six.

Alex Petrovic

The Auburn Tigers' right-handed starting pitcher, who entered the game with a 6-1 record and 2.66 ERA.

Kyle Jones

The Florida Gators' center fielder, who went 2-for-4 with a run scored in the victory.

Karson Bowen

The Florida Gators' catcher, who drove in two runs to help lead the offense to the win.

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What they’re saying

“This was a huge series win for us against a top-10 opponent. Our guys really battled and showed a lot of fight to come away with the victory in the rubber match.”

— Kevin O'Sullivan, Florida Gators Head Coach

What’s next

The Gators will look to build on this series win as they continue SEC play, with their next conference series coming against the Vanderbilt Commodores next weekend.

The takeaway

This series victory over Auburn solidifies Florida's status as one of the top teams in the SEC and boosts their chances of securing a high seed in the upcoming conference and NCAA tournaments. The Gators' combination of strong pitching and timely hitting proved too much for the Tigers in the rubber match.