UPDATE: Alabama eliminated from SEC Baseball Tournament

HOOVER | The University of Alabama baseball team made a quick exit from the 2007 SEC Baseball Tournament on Thursday, losing 3-2 to Florida in an elimination game at Regions Park.

Alabama (31-26) now awaits a possible NCAA Tournament invitation Monday to continue its season. Florida (29-29) advances to play the loser of Thursday night's Arkansas-South Carolina game.

Thursday's loss marks the first time Alabama has failed to win a game in the SEC Tournament since 1994.

Florida jumped out to an early 1-0 lead in the first inning off UA starter Will Stroup (3-1) when Austin Pride singled in Cole Figueroa. Alabama tied it in the next half-inning, with Kent Matthes smacking a leadoff double and scoring on a Del Howell fielder's choice grounder.

Florida regained the lead in the bottom of the second, as Cody Neer scored off a Hampton Tignor sacrifice fly. The Gators added another run in the third via a Brian LeClerc fielder's choice grounder that scored Avery Barnes.

Alex Avila brought Alabama within a run in the ninth, crashing his team-high 14th homer to left-center to lead off the inning, and Matthes singled sharply up the middle to chase Florida starter Bryan Augenstein. After Matt Bentley bunted Matthes to second, Augenstein (8-5) got Howell and Brandon May to strike out to end the game.

Stroup lasted 5 1/3 innings, with Austin Hyatt going the rest of the way for Alabama. Augenstein finished with eight strikeouts for Florida.

Reach David Wasson at david.wasson@tuscaloosanews.com or at 205-722-0229.

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