WHAT HAPPENED: No. 1 Florida used a six-run third inning to jumpstart a 11-2 win over No. 9 Kentucky in the series opener in Lexington on Thursday night.  
 
What looked like a pitchers' duel quickly turned in the third inning, as Kentucky made an early decision to go to the bullpen and the Gators proceeded to knock them for six runs in the frame.
 
The Gators loaded the bases without a hit (hit batter, two walks) before Deacon Liput lined a double into the right field gap to bring in two runs.
 
Wil Dalton made it 6-0 with a three-run homer to left field, giving him the SEC lead with 14 home runs on the season.
 
Florida starter Brady Singer looked to be in control for most of the night with the exception of the fourth inning. He lost an 0-2 pitch inside and hit a batter and the Wildcats capitalized with a pair of hits to bring in two runs.
 
Singer then retired 10 of the next 11 batters to end his night. He finished with just three hits allowed through seven innings of work with 10 strikeouts.
 
The Gators added a run in the fourth on a RBI groundout from Liput and Blake Reese's RBI single in the fifth made it 8-2.
 
Freshman Brady Smith hit his second home run of the season and the Gators added two more runs in the ninth for the final 11-2 margin. Smith finished 3-for-4 with a pair of RBI on the night.
 
Freshman Tommy Mace pitched the final two innings without allowing a run to finish off the win.
 
IN THE SPOTLIGHT: Jonathan India – India's 24-game hitting streak ended on Thursday night after a 0-3 night. He drew two walks in the game but couldn't muster a hit. During the hitting streak, India hit .513 with 16 multi-hit games, eight home runs and 21 RBI.
 
FROM THE COACH: Head coach Kevin O'Sullivan on tonight's game: "Brady was really good. He pitched really well early on and had a special fastball tonight and had command of his slider. We benefited from a few walks there in the third inning and Deacon hit the double in to the gap, then obviously got the home run from Wil Dalton.
 
"After we got the lead we continued to pitch well and play good defense and got some hits up and down the lineup. It was a difficult night to hit too because they showed us a lot of different pitchers and that can make it hard to get into a rhythm."

STANDOUT STAT: 240 – With 10 strikeouts on the night, Brady Singer now has 240 career punch outs, moving into ninth place all time in the Florida record books. Rob Bonanno holds the record with 392 strikeouts in his career (1991-94).

UP NEXT: Florida and Kentucky will meet again Friday night at 7:30 p.m. The game will air live on SEC Network. The series finale is Saturday at 1 p.m. (SEC Network+ stream only).