From the first inning to the last, Alabama’s bats were unstoppable, torching Rhode Island’s pitching staff for 38 runs in a three-game sweep.
Game 1: Alabama 19, Rhode Island 4 (F/7)
The Alabama bats exploded Friday night, scoring 19 runs in a 19-4 win over Rhode Island.
The Crimson Tide came out swinging right away with three runs in the first inning before the Rams could record an out. Star shortstop Justin Lebron got the scoring started, launching a two-run home run to straightaway center field, his third of the season, making it 2-0.
“Just a relentless approach offensively,” head coach Rob Vaughn said. “I think Lebron’s homer in the first let everybody breathe a little. Once he did that, it was like ‘alright, here we go.’”
Catcher Brady Neal followed that up with a double in the right field corner and later came around to score on an RBI bloop single to left field from Andrew Purdy. The Crimson Tide tacked on eight more runs in the second inning thanks to a bases-clearing double from third baseman Jason Torres and a two-run home run from Purdue Fort-Wayne transfer left fielder Justin Osterhouse, his first hit in an Alabama uniform, to extend the lead 11-0.
In the bottom of the third inning, the Crimson Tide added two more runs via a leadoff solo home run from Neal and an RBI single from Osterhouse. Torres added another run the following inning, thanks to an RBI groundout, making it a 14-0 ballgame.
Crimson Tide starting pitcher Tyler Fay had everything working for him in the first four innings; he didn’t allow his first hit of the night until the fifth inning. The Rams added three runs of their own in the fifth inning on a three-run home run by shortstop Reece Moroney to cut the Crimson Tide’s lead to 14-3.
Alabama quickly responded with five runs of its own in the bottom half of the fifth inning, highlighted by a two-run single from South Alabama transfer second baseman Brennan Holt. A couple of batters later, Lebron launched a three-run home run, his second of the game, making it a 19-3 game.
Fay pitched five innings, allowing three hits, three runs, two walks, struck out five batters on 68 pitches, and was credited with the win. Left-handed pitcher Connor Lehman replaced Fay on the mound in the sixth inning and recorded three strikeouts to work a scoreless frame. Owen Sama came in relief for Lehman and gave up a run on an RBI double by Will Hindle but then picked up the final three outs to end the game 19-4.
Game 2: Alabama 8, Rhode Island 5
The Crimson Tide took down the Rams 8-5 in Game 1 of the Saturday doubleheader.
Zane Adams made his second start of the season, tossing six innings, allowing five hits, two runs, not walking anybody, striking out six on 88 pitches, and recording the win to lower his ERA to 1.64.
“The guy’s a presence on the mound, he’s a quiet guy, but when he steps foot on that mound, we all know what he’s going to be doing,” Lemm said of Adams. “Like he throws the ball over the plate. You know that he’s gonna force contact. If not, they’re just gonna miss.”
The Crimson Tide got the scoring started in the second inning thanks to a sacrifice fly from Osterhouse to give Alabama a 1-0 advantage. The Rams quickly responded as Jayden Tolentino led off the third inning with a solo home run to even things up at 1-1. A couple of batters later, Jack Hopko gave the Rams a 2-1 lead via a sacrifice fly.
In the bottom of the fourth inning, the Crimson Tide tacked on four runs to take a 5-2 lead, highlighted by a two-run home run from Luke Vaughn and a two-run single by Bryce Fowler. Peyton Steele added another run for the Crimson Tide in the fifth inning, thanks to a sacrifice fly to extend the lead to 6-2.
The Rams attempted to mount a comeback in the seventh inning, as Tolentino crushed a three-run home run, his second of the game, to cut the Crimson Tide’s lead to 6-5.
Catcher John Lemm led off the bottom of the seventh with a solo home run, his first in an Alabama uniform, and added another run in the eighth inning via a safety squeeze from Neal to make it an 8-5 ballgame.
Sam Mitchell replaced Adams on the mound to start the seventh inning and allowed three runs in while only recording two outs. The Samford transfer Evan Steckmesser took over for Mitchell and recorded the final seven outs to pick up the save and give Alabama an 8-5 win.
Game 3: Alabama 11, Rhode Island 1 F/8
The Crimson Tide completed the sweep of the Rams with an 11-1 run‑rule win in eight innings, backed by a dominant start from freshman Myles Upchurch and consistent offensive pressure.
Alabama struck quickly thanks to Lebron launching his fifth home run of the season to give the Crimson Tide a 1-0 lead. Neal followed with a bunt single, Torres walked, and after a two‑out walk to Vaughn, loaded the bases. Justin Osterhouse drew a bases‑loaded walk to make it 2-0.
Upchurch struck out two in the second and got help from Neal, who back-picked a runner at first to end the inning. In the third, Bryce Fowler made a highlight‑reel diving catch in center and doubled off the runner at first. A defensive miscue from the Rams in the bottom half of the inning allowed Alabama to extend the lead to 3-0.
Upchurch continued to cruise, finishing five scoreless innings with seven strikeouts, allowing just three hits, one walk on 76 pitches, and was credited with the win.
“He’s just a hard worker, he’s going to turn out to be one of the best pitchers I reckon to come through Alabama baseball,” Lemm said of Upchurch.
The Crimson Tide added to their lead in the fifth when Torres crushed a 432‑foot solo homer — Alabama’s longest of the season. A couple of batters later, Peyton Steele delivered an RBI single, and an error on the play brought in another run, pushing the lead to 6-0.
Austin Morris took over in the sixth and faced the minimum, and Rhode Island scratched across a run in the seventh on an RBI groundout from Ryan Thompson. Matthew Heiberger replaced Morris and tossed a perfect eighth.
The Crimson Tide put the game away in the bottom of the eighth. Holt walked, Fowler singled and Neal lined an RBI single to right. Torres walked, Vaughn added a bases‑loaded walk and Osterhouse got plunked to make it 9-1. Steele then ripped a two‑run single, sealing the 11-1 run‑rule victory.
The Crimson Tide now faces its biggest test yet Tuesday night, traveling to Hattiesburg to face No. 20-ranked Southern Miss, the same place Alabama’s season ended last year. First pitch is scheduled for 6 p.m. CT on ESPN+.
