Alabama
26-8
Samford
14-17
No. 8 Crimson Tide Run-Rules Samford 16-2, Coach Vaughn Earns 100th Win at Alabama
4/7/2026 10:30:00 PM | Baseball
The Tide extended its nation-leading home winning-streak to 18 consecutive games
TUSCALOOSA, Ala. – No. 8 Alabama baseball (26-8) saw its bats 13 total hits, including six for extra bases, as the Crimson Tide cruised to a 16-2 win over Samford at Sewell-Thomas Stadium on Tuesday. The game was made official after seven innings due to the 10-run mercy rule. Not only did Alabama produce its 18th consecutive home win, the longest such streak in the country, but head coach Rob Vaughn also recorded his 100th win as the head coach of the Crimson Tide.
Eric Hines was the star of the night, as the freshman finished 3-for-3 with a home run, three RBI, a hit-by-pitch and three runs scored. Hines' two-run home run in the 6th was his first-career home run at Sewell-Thomas Stadium. Luke Vaughn also drove in three runs, having been responsible for a three-run home run in the 3rd. Vaughn eventually finished a 1-for-1, closing with two walks and two runs scored.
Chase Kroberger, in just his second start as a rookie, clubbed his first collegiate home run in the 3rd, following Vaughn with a solo blast. Kroberger was 1-for-2 with two RBI, two walks, two runs scored and a stolen base. Jason Torres posted a 3-for-4 night, collecting a triple and two RBI to go with two runs scored, while Justin Lebron was 2-for-5 with an RBI and two runs scored. Bryce Fowler managed a 1-for-4 night with a double and one RBI, with Peyton Steele, who pinch-hit for Fowler in the 6th, lining a two-run double in his lone plate appearance.
JT Blackwood (1-1) gave Alabama exactly what it needed in his fifth midweek start, surrendering just two runs on six hits over 4.2 innings. Blackwood did not allow a walk while picking up three strikeouts. Connor Lehman was called upon in the 5th, totaling 1.1 innings of shutout ball, limiting the Bulldogs to just one walk. Anthony Pesci finished out the win for the Tide, working around a walk while punching out two in a scoreless 7th.
From Head Coach Rob Vaughn
Yeah, good night. A good night. Obviously, I thought that was maybe our most complete game we played all year. I thought the offense was electric. I thought some young pups just took advantage of their opportunities, including a guy like Eric (Hines). Chase (Kroberger) was unbelievable tonight. JT (Blackwood) did a great job getting us out of the gate. I thought we threw the ball really well tonight. Great team win. Proud of the guys. You always, as a coach, kind of are a little leery when you look up and guys start getting ranked higher and this and that, you wonder if complacency is going to sneak in or not. I just said this on the radio show, I think that was the genius of Coach Saban for all those years, it was such an unbelievable dynasty, and I never felt like his teams were complacent. As a young coach watching that and trying to do your best to try to keep the edge that these guys have been fighting for all year. So, proud of them tonight, a great win, now we get to two good days of practice and turn our attention to a darn good Arkansas team coming in here this weekend.
How It Happened
- B1 | Bryce Fowler doubled to left to open the inning, with Justin Lebron following him with a hard single through the left side, advancing Fowler to third. Brady Neal was then hit by a pitch to load the bases. Jason Torres took advantage of the scoring chance, lining a base-hit up the middle to score two. After a strikeout, Eric Hines sent a single into left to score Neal. After Luke Vaughn drew a walk to again load the bases, Chase Kroberger bounced into a fielder's choice to plate Torres. (4-0, Alabama)
- T2 | The Bulldogs quickly answered, as a one-out single was followed by an RBI double and an RBI single. (4-2, Alabama)
- B3 | Torres opened the frame with a single to center before Hines singled to left, putting two on with one out. Vaughn proceeded to lift a three-run homer into the Tide bullpen, with Kroberger following him with a solo shot to left. (8-2, Alabama)
- B5 | As the leadoff man, Hines was hit by a pitch before both Vaughn and Kroberger both earned free passes, loading the bases. After a strikeout, Fowler grounded into a fielder's choice to bring in Hines. After Fowler, Lebron smoked a single to left to drive in Vaughn. With two outs, Neal popped up to shallow left, though the flyball was mishandled by the Samford third baseman, allowing two runs to score (12-2, Alabama)
- B6 | John Lemm singled through the left side with one out, leading to Hines' two-run home run to right-center. Stepping to the plate with two outs and no one on, Kroberger again walked, with pinch-hitter Jojo Williamson following him with a walk of his own. Peyton Steele, pinch-hitting for Fowler, cranked a two-run double to straightaway center. (16-2, Alabama)
Postgame Notes
- Head coach Rob Vaughn secured his 100th win at Alabama, now owning a 100-50 (.667) overall record during his tenure at The Capstone
- Vaughn is the third-fastest coach in program history to record 100 wins, doing so in 150 games, trailing only Tilden Campbell (128 games) and Jim Wells (142 games)
- Alabama has now won 18 consecutive games at The Joe, the longest home winning streak in the country
- The Tide picked up its 13th consecutive win over Samford, a streak that began in 2019
- Alabama's 16 runs were its most in a game this season since scoring 19 runs against Rhode Island on Feb. 20
- Chase Kroberger's solo home run in the 3rd was not only his first collegiate home run, but also his first collegiate hit
- Luke Vaughn and Kroberger produced back-to-back home runs in the 3rd, the first time Alabama has managed back-to-back jacks since Will Hodo and Jason Torres accomplished the feat against Missouri on April 26 of last season
- Jason Torres was responsible for his 11th multi-RBI game this season, a team high
- Bryce Fowler improved his team-leading on-base streak to 28 games
- Brady Neal extended his on-base streak to 25 games
- Justin Lebron advanced his on-base streak to 14 games
- Attendance: 5,184
Up Next
- Alabama will remain at home, hosting No. 22 Arkansas for a three-game series beginning Friday, April 10
- First pitch between the Crimson Tide and Razorbacks is scheduled for 6 p.m. CT, airing on SEC Network+
Team Stats
Pitching:
W: Blackwood, JT (1-1)
L: Will Andre (1-1)
Batting:
2B: Jackson Harris 2
RBI: Jackson Harris 1 ; Parker McDonald 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Gus Gandy 1 ; Jackson Harris 1
SB: Jake Souders 1
PO: Parker McDonald 1
Batting:
2B: Fowler, Bryce 1 ; Steele, Peyton 1
3B: Torres, Jason 1
HR: Hines, Eric 1 ; Vaughn, Luke 1 ; Kroberger, Chase 1
RBI: Fowler, Bryce 1 ; Steele, Peyton 2 ; Lebron, Justin 1 ; Torres, Jason 2 ; Hines, Eric 3 ; Vaughn, Luke 3 ; Kroberger, Chase 2
Base Running:
RUNS: Fowler, Bryce 2 ; Lebron, Justin 2 ; Neal, Brady 1 ; Torres, Jason 2 ; Lemm, John 1 ; Hines, Eric 3 ; Vaughn, Luke 2 ; Kroberger, Chase 2 ; Williamson, Jojo 1
SB: Fowler, Bryce 1 ; Lebron, Justin 1 ; Kroberger, Chase 1
HBP: Neal, Brady 1 ; Hines, Eric 1
