Alabama
30-16, 0
Vanderbilt
27-20, 0
| Team | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | Runs R | Hits H | Errors E |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Vanderbilt | 0 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 9 | 0 |
| Alabama | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 5 | 7 | 0 |
Lemm Provides Walk-Off Homer in No. 24 Baseball’s 5-4 Win over Vanderbilt
4/30/2026 11:00:00 PM | Baseball
The Crimson Tide earned its 30th win of the season in game-ending fashion on Thursday
TUSCALOOSA, Ala. – No. 24 Alabama baseball (30-16, 11-11 SEC) erased a late three-run deficit, as John Lemm's walk-off, solo home run pushed the Crimson Tide past Vanderbilt (27-20, 10-12 SEC) in Thursday's 5-4 victory at Sewell-Thomas Stadium.
Lemm was the only man in the Tide lineup to provide multiple hits, adding a double to go with the game-winning longball. Eric Hines was 1-for-4, though his lone hit was a game-tying three-run home run in the 6th. Luke Vaughn finished 1-for-3 with a triple, while Peyton Steele was 1-for-3 with one RBI. Brady Neal and Jason Torres also collected one hit apiece.
Tyler Fay, in his 12th start of the season, kept his side in striking distance in spite of surrendering three home runs. The right-hander tossed 6.1 innings on Thursday, allowing eight hits and four runs in addition to one walk and seven strikeouts. Matthew Heiberger (3-2) was brilliant in a long relief role, surrendering just a hit and a walk across 2.2 scoreless frames to earn the win.
From Head Coach Rob Vaughn
"Just a gritty win. I thought Vanderbilt punished some pitches that Tyler Fay left up, but he also made some huge pitches in some big spots. Solo homers aren't going to beat you, and he wasn't putting guys on for free. (Fay) and Matt (Heiberger) were outstanding tonight. Matty attacked the zone with multiple pitches, just an outstanding job. I told the guys, the story you tell yourself matters. If we're going to suck our thumbs because they got us with a hidden ball trick, we might as well just call the game and be done. If we can be mature enough to say hey, look at that inning, we can get back in this. Then you have the young pup Eric Hines, just a huge swing there. Just a good approach, got the breaking ball up. And then, a huge swing from John (Lemm), so, proud of the guys. We were here last week. We were in this same spot last week and came away pretty disappointed, so we have to make sure we ring the bell tomorrow and show up ready to go."
How It Happened
- T3 | Rustan Rigdon opened the inning with a single to center. The next batter, Tommy Goodin, launched a two-run homer to right. (2-0, Vanderbilt)
- B3 | Luke Vaughn led off the frame with a triple to right-center, with Peyton Steele bringing him home with an RBI groundout to shortstop. (2-1, Vanderbilt)
- T4 | The Commodores got a run back after Colin Barczi lifted a solo home run to right-center. (3-1, Vanderbilt)
- T6 | Rigdon lifted a two-out, solo home run to extend the visitor's lead. (4-1, Vanderbilt)
- B6 | With one out, Brady Neal lined a base-hit to right-center, with Bryce Fowler following him with a walk. After Fowler, Eric Hines crushed the first pitch he saw for a three-run home run that landed in the Vandy bullpen. (4-4)
- B9 | As the leadoff man, John Lemm managed the game-ending swing, slugging a walk-off, solo home run to straightaway center. (5-4, Alabama)
Postgame Notes
- John Lemm's walk-off home run stands as the Tide's second true walk-off win this season (Bryce Fowler vs. Auburn, March 28)
- Justin Lebron stole his 35th base in as many tries on Thursday and is now tied for the fifth-most stolen bases in a single season in Alabama program history (David Tidwell, 1997)
- Lebron now owns 62 career stolen bases, tying David Tidwell (1996-97) for third-most in the Crimson Tide record book
- Brady Neal extended his on-base streak to 37 games
- Eric Hines has now reached base in each of his last five games
- Luke Vaughn's triple was the first of his collegiate career
- Tyler Fay has now recorded at least 5.0-plus innings on the mound in each of his last 11 starts, including all eight of his SEC starts this season
- Attendance: 3,639
Up Next
- Alabama will continue its series with Vanderbilt on Friday, May 1
- The Crimson Tide and Commodores are scheduled for a 12:30 p.m. CT first pitch, airing on SEC Network+
Team Stats
Pitching:
W: Heiberger, Matthew (3-2)
L: Tyler Baird (0-4)
Batting:
2B: Ryker Waite 1
HR: Colin Barczi 1 ; Rustan Rigdon 1 ; Tommy Goodin 1
RBI: Colin Barczi 1 ; Rustan Rigdon 1 ; Tommy Goodin 2
Base Running:
RUNS: Colin Barczi 1 ; Rustan Rigdon 2 ; Tommy Goodin 1
SB: Ryker Waite 1 ; Mike Mancini 1
HBP: Ryker Waite 1
Batting:
2B: Lemm, John 1
3B: Vaughn, Luke 1
HR: Hines, Eric 1 ; Lemm, John 1
RBI: Hines, Eric 3 ; Lemm, John 1 ; Steele, Peyton 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Neal, Brady 1 ; Fowler, Bryce 1 ; Hines, Eric 1 ; Lemm, John 1 ; Vaughn, Luke 1
SB: Lebron, Justin 1
HBP: Lebron, Justin 1
