HOOVER, Ala. — Jacob Young homered, Tommy Mace struck out eight in five innings and No. 6 seed Florida beat 11th-seeded Kentucky 4-1 on Tuesday in the first game of the SEC Tournament.

Florida (36-19) snapped a four-game losing streak to advance to play No. 3 seed Mississippi State on Wednesday. Kentucky (29-23) was eliminated from the tournament.

Florida first baseman Kendrick Calilao hit a deep shot to center with the bases loaded in the eighth, but Cam Hill made a catch against the wall to end the inning.

Kentucky had runners at second and third with one out in the ninth but Jacob Plastiak struck out and Oraj Anu grounded out for Jack Leftwich’s fifth save.

Mace (6-1), on short rest, gave up seven hits and one run. Kentucky starter Sean Harney (3-2) went 4 1/3 innings. allowing four hits and one earned run.

Young went deep to left on the first pitch of the bottom half of the first inning, and Sterlin Thompson made it 2-0 with an RBI single to left.