Alabama
17-7, 0
Florida
19-5, 0
Baseball Wins 8-4 on Saturday to Take Series from No. 18 Florida
3/21/2026 8:01:00 PM | Baseball
The Crimson Tide secured its first series victory over the Gators since 2008
TUSCALOOSA, Ala. – Led by another outstanding start on the mound, Alabama baseball (17-7, 2-3 SEC) claimed an 8-4 win over No. 18 Florida (19-5, 3-2 SEC) at Sewell-Thomas Stadium on Saturday. As a result of Saturday's victory, the Crimson Tide earned its first series win over the Gators since 2008.
Zane Adams (4-1) gave the Tide a superlative effort in his sixth start of 2026, limiting the Gators to just two runs on five hits and one walk while striking out six across 6.0 innings. Adams allowed single runs in the 2nd and 3rd innings, though the southpaw tossed three consecutive scoreless innings to close his outing, making way for his side to score six of the game's final eight runs.
Out of the bullpen, Matthew Heiberger followed Adams with 2.1 effective innings of relief, allowing just one hit and two unearned runs over his seven outs. Heiberger struck out two and walked a pair in his eighth appearance of the spring. Hagan Banks, in a non-save situation, entered in the 9th, inheriting the bases loaded and one out. The Tide's de facto closer retired two of the three batters he faced to secure the win, scattering a double between two fly outs.
Alabama's leader in batting average, Brady Neal, continued his torrid pace, going 3-for-5 with three RBI. Justin Lebron was 1-for-3, clubbing a two-run home run in the 7th, adding a walk and two runs scored. Bryce Fowler ended his afternoon 1-for-3 with a double, three runs scored and three stolen bases, while Jason Torres was also 1-for-3, driving in two runs with two sacrifice bunts. Brennan Holt was a catalyst out of the nine-hole, finishing 1-for-2 with a double, an RBI, two walks, two runs scored and two stolen bases.
From Head Coach Rob Vaughn
"Yeah, obviously a good one. Good way to finish the series or win this series I should say. When we talked to the guys, I told Zane (Adams) this when he came out of the game, I thought the story of the game was just how he competed. He had some stuff, but he didn't have just elite feel of everything. He had to battle through some things. He had to work through some things. He had to execute pitches in big spots. That's what makes him who he is. But just a really good team win. I told the team afterwards, my dad taught me this when I was a kid, and he always told me if you ever get in a fight and you get the guy on the ground, don't ever let him up. Just keep swinging, you cannot let him up. So right now, that's where we're at in this series, right? We got them on the mat, we got them on the ground, but if we let them up for one inch, we know how good that Florida team is out there. The last three Sundays, there's been no secret. We're getting no-hit through five or six innings last week at Kentucky. Didn't do a good job three Sundays ago against Houston. This is going to be a good test for us. It's been a great start to the weekend, but you don't get in this position very often against really good teams, and we're in a position to finish the series. So, can we come out tomorrow and be mature enough to keep them on the ground? I trust that Myles (Upchurch) is going to have a great start."
How It Happened
- B1 | The Tide was first to find the run column, as Justin Lebron worked a one-out walk and reached third after Brady Neal singed into left-center. Jason Torres proceeded to lay down a perfect safety squeeze towards the pitcher, allowing Lebron to score. (1-0, Alabama)
- T2 | Florida leveled the score when Karson Bowen launched a solo home run as the leadoff man. (1-1)
- T3 | The Gators opened the inning with a single before a one-out walk put two men on base. After the walk, Blake Cyr singled to right field to plate Cade Kurland. (2-1, Florida)
- B3 | The Tide responded immediately, with Brennan Holt and Bryce Fowler leading off the inning with consecutive walks before a double steal advanced both men into scoring position. With one out, Neal lined a single to left to drive in Holt, with Torres again executing a squeeze bunt to score Holt. (3-2, Alabama)
- B5 | Holt walked on four pitches to open the 5th, though he was erased after Fowler bounced into a fielder's choice. Fowler later stole second and advanced to third after a flyout. With two down, Neal laced a single over the second baseman's outstretched glove, allowing Fowler to come home. (4-2, Alabama)
- B7 | With one out, Fowler doubled deep to right-center, with Lebron driving him in with a two-run home run off the scoreboard in left. (6-2, Alabama)
- B8 | After a strikeout to lead off the inning, Luke Vaughn lined a double to left field, with Holt following him with a double of his own down the right field line, allowing Vaughn to cross the plate. Fowler then walked, with Holt and Fowler again succeeding with a double steal. After Lebron was hit by a pitch to load the bases, Neal bounced into a productive out at first to drive in Holt (8-2, Alabama)
- T9 | Florida began the inning with a base-hit before an error at third put two men on with one out. After a walk loaded the bases, the Gators produced a sacrifice fly and an RBI double to left to score two runs. (8-4, Alabama)
Postgame Notes
- With the win, the Crimson Tide earned its first series win over Florida since 2008 when Alabama claimed two of three games at Sewell-Thomas Stadium
- Alabama managed six stolen bases on Saturday, raising the Tide's season total to 56 steals in 24 games, surpassing the Tide's 2025 season total of 52 steals in 59 games
- Luke Vaughn elevated his team-high on-base streak to 20 games
- Bryce Fowler extended his on-base streak to 18 games and now has at least one hit in six consecutive games
- Fowler is hitting .385 (10-for-26) with three doubles, three RBI, five walks, five stolen bases and five runs scored over the course of his six-game hitting streak
- Fowler's three steals on Saturday marks a new career high, eclipsing his previous career high of two steals set three times previously
- Brady Neal improved his on-base streak to 15 games
- Justin Osterhouse stretched his on-base streak to 12 games
- Attendance: 3,875
Up Next
- Alabama will go for the series sweep of No. 18 Florida on Sunday, March 22
- First pitch between the Crimson Tide and Gators is scheduled for 12 p.m. CT, airing on SEC Network
Team Stats
Pitching:
W: Adams, Zane (4-1)
L: Aidan King (3-2)
Batting:
2B: Blake Cyr 1 ; Kolt Myers 1
HR: Karson Bowen 1
RBI: Kyle Jones 1 ; Blake Cyr 2 ; Karson Bowen 1
SF: Kyle Jones 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Karson Bowen 1 ; Ethan Surowiec 1 ; Cade Kurland 2
SB: Kyle Jones 1
HBP: Blake Cyr 1
PO: Blake Cyr 1
Batting:
2B: Fowler, Bryce 1 ; Vaughn, Luke 1 ; Holt, Brennan 1
HR: Lebron, Justin 1
RBI: Lebron, Justin 2 ; Neal, Brady 3 ; Torres, Jason 2 ; Holt, Brennan 1
SH: Torres, Jason 2
Base Running:
RUNS: Fowler, Bryce 3 ; Lebron, Justin 2 ; Vaughn, Luke 1 ; Holt, Brennan 2
SB: Fowler, Bryce 3 ; Osterhouse, Justin 1 ; Holt, Brennan 2
HBP: Lebron, Justin 1
