Alabama
21-7, 0
Auburn
20-6, 0
Fowler Walks Off No. 5 Auburn in 3-2 Win on Saturday
3/29/2026 12:00:00 AM | Baseball
The Crimson Tide secured its first series win against the Tigers since 2023
TUSCALOOSA, Ala. – In a 2-2 game entering the bottom half of the 9th, Bryce Fowler provided the game-winning hit, as his walk-off double pushed Alabama (21-7, 5-3 SEC) past No. 5 Auburn (20-6, 4-4 SEC) in Saturday's 3-2 win in front of a sold-out crowd at Sewell-Thomas Stadium. The Crimson Tide has now won five consecutive Southeastern Conference contests and six straight games overall.
The hero of the evening, Fowler finished his night 2-for-4 with a walk, closing his night with the walk-off RBI double in the 9th. Brennan Holt, who led off the final frame with a double of his own, finished 2-for-4, adding the game-ending run to his ledger. Brady Neal was 2-for-4 with a double and a run scored, while John Lemm also posted two hits in four at-bats to go with a run scored. Will Plattner was 1-for-3, collecting an RBI following a safety squeeze in the 4th. Luke Vaughn was responsible for one of the Tide's two runs in the 4th, as his RBI single that same inning gave Alabama an early one-run lead. Vaughn eventually ended his night 1-for-4 with the run batted in.
Zane Adams gave Alabama a masterful effort in his seventh start of the spring, limiting the Tigers to just one earned run over 6.1 innings, surrendering only four hits and two walks while striking out eight over his 19 outs. Adams saw a run cross the plate following a passed ball in the opening inning, though the southpaw proceeded to shutout Auburn over the next five-plus innings, Adams managed multiple strikeouts between the 2nd and 4th innings, not allowing a Tiger to advance beyond first base over his final five full frames.
Hagan Banks (1-0) entered in a 2-2 game in the 8th and was nearly flawless, scattering a hit and a walk over 2.0 scoreless innings. Banks stranded a runner at second in both of his innings on the mound, allowing the Tide to find the game-ending hit in the 9th.
From Head Coach Rob Vaughn
Fun night. Just an incredibly, incredibly well-pitched game. I thought Zane Adams was outstanding. I knew in the first that we were going to get a good start from him. I know he walked (Bristol) Carter to lead off the game, but he was all around the strike zone. The shapes, the stuff looked really good. Once he got through that first, he settled in and was pretty dang dominant the rest of the way. Outstanding job by him. Bobby comes in. I know he gives up the sac fly, but minimizes, does what he needs to do, makes a big pitch to keep the tie, and then Hagan Banks, just outstanding stuff. Bryce (Fowler) made a couple huge plays in center. I mean, we're all going to talk about the hit, but some huge plays in center. The thing we talk about with this group all the time is, be unafraid to crash and burn. You know? Just go send it. Go be aggressive. If we're going to go down, we're going to go down being aggressive. So, really proud of the effort, really proud of the guys. That's a good team on the other side, and obviously our arch-rival and first time we've had them here. So, it feels good to have it at home, feels good to kind of finish it the way we did. Now we have a chance to put an exclamation on the weekend tomorrow.
How It Happened
- T1 | The Tigers were the first to scoreboard after the visitors opened the game with a walk and a single. Carter, the leadoff man, stole third and eventually came home following a passed ball. (1-0, Auburn)
- B4 | Brady Neal singled to right to lead off the inning. With one out, John Lemm managed a base-hit through the right side, allowing Neal to advance to third. With runners at the corners, Will Plattner executed a perfect safety squeeze, as his bunt allowed Neal to score. After Justin Osterhouse reached base as the result of a two-out error, Luke Vaughn lined a single that ricocheted off the Auburn pitcher that dribbled towards second and allowed Lemm to come home. (2-1, Alabama)
- T7 | Consecutive one-out singles saw the Tigers place runners at the corners, while a sacrifice fly gave way for the tying run to score. (2-2)
- B9 | Brennan Holt opened the inning with a double into right-center, as replay review investigated a close tag at second that eventually confirmed the two-base hit. The next batter, Bryce Fowler lined a double into left-center that secured the Tide victory. (3-2, Alabama)
Postgame Notes
- The Crimson Tide cemented its first series win over the Tigers since 2023
- Alabama has now won five consecutive SEC contests, the Tide's longest SEC winning streak since 2023
- Saturday's contest marked the first sell-out of Sewell-Thomas Stadium of 2026 and its first sell-out since April 12 of last season against Mississippi State
- Bryce Fowler extended his on-base streak to 22 games and now has at least one hit in 10 consecutive games
- Fowler is hitting .463 (19-for-41) with four doubles, nine RBI, eight walks, five stolen bases and 11 runs scored over the course of his 10-game hitting streak
- Brennan Holt extended his hitting streak to six games
- Holt is batting .444 (8-for-18) with three doubles, three RBI, six walks, three stolen bases and nine runs scored since the streak began
- Luke Vaughn kept his on-base streak alive and has now reached base in 24 consecutive games
- Brady Neal also extended his on-base streak to 19 consecutive games
- Justin Osterhouse stretched his on-base streak to 16 games
- Justin Lebron has now reached base in eight consecutive games
- John Lemm now owns a six-game on-base streak
- Attendance: 5,800
Up Next
- Alabama will aim for the sweep of No. 5 Auburn in the series finale on Sunday, March 29
- First pitch between the Crimson Tide and Tigers is scheduled for 1 p.m. CT, airing on SEC Network+
Team Stats
Pitching:
W: Banks, Hagan (1-0)
L: Hetzler, Ryan (3-1)
Batting:
2B: Fralick, Chase 1
RBI: Gregorio, Logan 1
SF: Gregorio, Logan 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Carter, Bristol 1 ; McCraine, Brandon 1
SB: Carter, Bristol 1 ; McCraine, Brandon 1
Batting:
2B: Fowler, Bryce 1 ; Neal, Brady 1 ; Osterhouse, Justin 1 ; Holt, Brennan 1
RBI: Fowler, Bryce 1 ; Plattner, Will 1 ; Vaughn, Luke 1
SH: Plattner, Will 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Neal, Brady 1 ; Lemm, John 1 ; Holt, Brennan 1
PO: Lebron, Justin 1
