There’s a new king in the Southeastern Conference.

Or, at least, there will be after today.

Mike Rivera’s leadoff home run on the first pitch of the ninth inning gave Florida the lead, and the Gators hung on to beat top-seeded LSU 2-1 Saturday in the SEC Tournament semifinals in Hoover, Alabama.

Florida’s victory ended LSU’s two-year reign as conference champion. It was just the fifth tournament loss for the Tigers (48-10) in nine seasons under coach Paul Mainieri, and snapped their nine-game winning streak in the tournament that dated to 2013.

“It was a tough loss for us because we came here to win this thing. We wanted to win for the third time in a row. We just didn’t play quite well enough today,” Mainieri said. “We had a couple innings where we didn’t finish the job. We were pretty fortunate that the game was even tied in the eighth inning.”

Florida (43-16) will play Vanderbilt (42-18), which routed Texas A&M 12-3 in the other semifinal, in the championship game today at 3:30 p.m.

The Gators will be making their second consecutive appearance in the championship game — they lost to LSU last year — and are going for their first championship since 2011.

The Gators got there by shackling one of the most potent lineups in the country.

LSU had scored at least six runs in 11 consecutive games, but was held to one run for just the third time this season. It has not been shut out.

The Tigers, though, never found their rhythm Saturday. They had nine hits but hit into two double plays and left eight runners on base.

Florida relievers Kirby Snead and Taylor Lewis combined to allow three hits and no walks over the last 6 1/3 innings. Lewis (6-1) worked the last 4 1/3 to get the win.

Florida also had nine hits and stranded 10 runners.

“We had nine hits but only one run. That means we did not come through in clutch situations,” Mainieri said. “(The Gators) were not coming through in big situations either.”

LSU took a 1-0 lead on Jared Foster’s RBI single in the second inning, and freshman Alex Lange pitched seven shutout innings despite allowing five hits and six walks.

Florida got to LSU’s bullpen, however, to tie it and then win it.

In the top of the eighth inning, Josh Tobias led off with a single and scored on a double by J.J. Schwarz. Rivera then put the Gators ahead 2-1 with his leadoff homer in the ninth, and Lewis retired LSU in order in the bottom half of the ninth.

“My approach was to square the ball up and get on base for the team. That was the main goal. I ran into a hanging changeup,” Rivera said. “It was special to me because we got the win and it’s also my dad’s birthday. I actually promised him that I was going to do something special, which is ironic.”

LSU reliever Jesse Stallings (1-2) gave up Rivera’s home run and took the loss.

“Stallings had one bad pitch and it cost us the game. That is the life of a relief pitcher,” Mainieri said. “We will regroup, watch the selection show and get ready for the NCAA Tournament.”