SEC Tournament Day 1 Recap

On May 20th, the much-anticipated SEC Tournament kicked off with four games, eight teams and four knockouts.

Game 1: Alabama vs Missouri

In the kick-off game, Alabama used a combination of sharp pitching and timely hitting to dispatch Missouri in the tournament opener. Right-hander Tyler Fay led the charge for the Crimson Tide, tossing six strong innings while allowing just one run and striking out five. Alabama overcame a 1-0 deficit in the middle innings, stringing together quality at-bats to score four unanswered runs. Missouri’s offense struggled to capitalize on early opportunities, going just 1-for-8 with runners in scoring position. With the win, Alabama stays alive in Hoover and advances to face No. 8 seed Tennessee in the double-elimination portion of the bracket, while Missouri’s season comes to an end at 16–39.

Game 2: Oklahoma vs Kentucky

In a matchup of evenly seeded teams, Oklahoma flipped the script from their regular-season sweep at the hands of Kentucky with a convincing 5–1 win. The Sooners’ pitching staff executed a clear game plan: challenge Kentucky hitters with strikes early and avoid free passes. That strategy paid off, as Kentucky managed just five hits and was held to one run on a solo homer. Offensively, Oklahoma was opportunistic, plating runs in multiple innings and capitalizing on two Kentucky errors. The Sooners’ win sets up a tough second-round test against No. 5 Georgia, but the victory gives them momentum and confidence in their first SEC Tournament since joining the conference.

Game 3: Florida vs South Carolina

Florida's offense came alive in a dominant performance that saw the Gators post 11 runs on 13 hits against a shaky South Carolina pitching staff. Slugger Bobby Boser launched his 16th home run of the season in a statement win that reminded the rest of the conference that Florida remains dangerous despite a lower seed. The Gators took control with a five-run third inning and never looked back, with eight different players recording at least one hit. On the mound, the bullpen was solid, holding the Gamecocks to three runs despite a couple of high-leverage situations. South Carolina ends a disappointing season on a down note, while Florida moves on to face No. 7 Ole Miss, a team they split with during the regular season.