Alabama
29-14, 10-9
Tennessee
27-15, 8-11
| Team | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | Runs R | Hits H | Errors E |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Alabama | 1 | 1 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 3 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 12 | 10 | 1 |
| Tennessee | 2 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 8 | 11 | 0 |
No. 13 Baseball Opens Series in Knoxville with 12-6 Win at Tennessee
4/24/2026 12:43:00 AM | Baseball
The Crimson Tide drew 10 walks and were hit by six pitches in the victory
KNOXVILLE, Tenn. – No. 13 Alabama baseball (29-14, 10-9 SEC) picked up its second consecutive conference win on Thursday, as the Crimson Tide pulled away from Tennessee (27-15, 8-11 SEC) in a 12-8 win at Lindsey Nelson Stadium.
Bryce Fowler led the Tide with a 3-for-4 night, collecting three doubles, three RBI and two walks in his first appearance in the cleanup spot. Eric Hines closed 2-for-5 with four RBI and a hit-by-pitch, as his three-run home run in the 6th created a five-run Alabama lead. Peyton Steele was 1-for-4, though his lone knock was a three-run double to give the Tide a two-run lead in the 3rd, an advantage it would not relinquish. Justin Lebron scored three runs as part of a 1-for-4 evening, while Brennan Holt managed a 2-for-4 effort with a walk and two runs scored.
Tyler Fay (7-3) toughed out 5.0 innings on Thursday, allowing six hits and four runs to go with two walks and six strikeouts. Sam Mitchell entered in the 6th and surrendered four runs on three hits while walking two and striking out a pair. Matthew Heiberger picked up the final out of the 7th before scattering a hit in a scoreless 8th. In the final frame, Hagan Banks worked around a hit, striking out two to close out the win.
From Head Coach Rob Vaughn
"Really proud of the way we fought and the way we competed. There were some really tough at-bats. I know they walked us what seemed like 20 times, but there were some very hard-fought walks. John Lemm took some really good pitches, Brady Neal too, but the one that stands out is Bryce Fowler. They went to the submariner, and he worked something like a 13-pitch at-bat and walked, just incredible. We were just trying to shift some stuff up. Looking at it, Bryce (Fowler) has been so good with runners on base all year, so the goal was trying to set those guys up. Brennan Holt keeps getting on base, so trying to set him up with guys in front of him. Obviously, the young pup Eric Hines steps on one and keeps growing up in front of our eyes. A good win, but this isn't what we came here to do. We have a chance to do something cool tomorrow. We need to rest, that was a long game, but we'll come out here at 2:30 ready to go."
How It Happened
- T1 | Justin Lebron drew a leadoff walk, with Brady Neal following suit two batters later. With two on and one out, Bryce Fowler drilled a double into the right-center gap to plate Lebron. (1-0, Alabama)
- B1 | Garrett Wright lifted a leadoff homer to plate the Vols' first run of the night. Harry Ford then doubled to left-center immediately after the home run, with Blake Grimmer driving him in with a single up the middle to give the Volunteers the lead. (2-1, Tennessee)
- T2 | After the first two men were retired, Lebron bounced an infield single, with Brennan Holt lining a single through the right side to put two men on. After Lebron stole third, a balk allowed him to jog home. (2-2)
- B2 | With two outs, Wright lifted his second solo home run of the game. (3-2, Tennessee)
- T3 | Eric Hines began the inning with sharp single to left, with John Lemm drawing a walk behind him. Luke Vaughn was then hit by a pitch in the helmet, forcing his exit. Peyton Steele, who entered the game after an injury to Justin Osterhouse, pummeled a three-run double to straightaway center. (5-3, Alabama)
- T4 | Holt earned a leadoff walk and took second on a balk. With one out, Fowler lined his second double of the night to score Holt. (6-3, Alabama)
- B4 | Manny Marin was plunked with one out, while Levi Clark singled to left-center one batter later, advancing Marin to third. Wright then bounced a grounder to shortstop, though the ball was misplayed to allow Marin to come home. (6-4, Alabama)
- T6 | With two outs, Neal worked a four-pitch walk, with Fowler following him with a five-pitch walk. Hines then deposited a three-run homer down the left field line that traveled 437 feet. (9-4, Alabama)
- B6 | After Clark drew a one-out walk, Ford clubbed a two-out, two-run homer to center. (9-6, Alabama)
- T7 | Steele was walked on four pitches after a leadoff out, with Lebron, Holt and Neal all getting plunked in succession, eventually plating Steele. With the bases still loaded, Fowler then worked a 13-pitch walk to force in a run, with Hines following him with an RBI hit-by-pitch. (12-6, Alabama)
- B7 | Stone Lawless managed a two-out walk and was pushed to third after Blaine Brown's double to right-center. Marin then singled to right field, driving in both men. (12-8, Alabama)
Postgame Notes
- The Crimson Tide tallied 12 runs on Thursday, marking the most runs scored by Alabama in Knoxville since 1999, when the Tide scored 12 runs in consecutive games to open the series
- Alabama drew 10 walks on Thursday, the second-most in a game this season (15 vs. Alabama State, March 4)
- The Tide's six hit-by-pitches are also the second-most in a game in 2026 (7 vs. Alabama State, March 4)
- Justin Lebron stretched his hitting streak to 12 games, managing a .292 average (14-for-48) with two doubles, one home run, five RBI, three walks and 10 stolen bases since the streak began
- Lebron stole his 34th base in as many tries on Thursday, the sixth-most stolen bases in a single season in Alabama program history
- Lebron now owns 61 career stolen bases, one shy of tying David Tidwell (1996-97) for third-most in the Crimson Tide record book
- Lebron also advanced his on-base streak to 23 games
- Brady Neal extended his on-base streak to 34 games
- Bryce Fowler is the second Alabama player this season to manage three doubles in a game, joining Brady Neal (vs. UAB, April 14)
- Prior to Neal's three-double game against the Blazers, the most recent player to produce three doubles in a single game was Chandler Avant in 2018
- ATTENDANCE: 6,485
Up Next
- Alabama is scheduled for a doubleheader at Tennessee on Friday, April 24
- First pitch for game one between the Crimson Tide and Volunteers is scheduled for 1:30 p.m. CT, with game two of the twin bill scheduled for either 5:30 p.m. CT or 45 minutes after the completion of game one
- The final two games of the series between Alabama and Tennessee will both air on SEC Network+
Team Stats
Pitching:
W: Fay, Tyler (7-3)
L: Landon Mack (3-4)
Batting:
2B: Fowler, Bryce 3 ; Steele, Peyton 1
HR: Hines, Eric 1
RBI: Neal, Brady 1 ; Fowler, Bryce 3 ; Hines, Eric 4 ; Steele, Peyton 3
SH: Torres, Jason 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Lebron, Justin 3 ; Holt, Brennan 2 ; Neal, Brady 1 ; Fowler, Bryce 1 ; Hines, Eric 2 ; Lemm, John 1 ; Purdy, Andrew 1 ; Steele, Peyton 1
SB: Lebron, Justin 1
HBP: Lebron, Justin 1 ; Holt, Brennan 1 ; Neal, Brady 2 ; Hines, Eric 1 ; Vaughn, Luke 1
Batting:
2B: Henry Ford 1 ; Blaine Brown 1
HR: Garrett Wright 2 ; Henry Ford 1
RBI: Garrett Wright 3 ; Henry Ford 2 ; Blake Grimmer 1 ; Manny Marin 2
Base Running:
RUNS: Garrett Wright 2 ; Henry Ford 2 ; Stone Lawless 1 ; Blaine Brown 1 ; Manny Marin 1 ; Levi Clark 1
HBP: Manny Marin 1
