Alabama
26-9, 0
Arkansas
22-13, 0
| Team | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | Runs R | Hits H | Errors E |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Arkansas | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 6 | 0 | 7 | 9 | 2 |
| Alabama | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 5 | 7 | 2 |
No. 8 Baseball Falls 7-5 to No. 22 Arkansas on Friday
4/10/2026 10:30:00 PM | Baseball
The Crimson Tide saw a six-run Razorbacks 8th tilt the game in the visitor’s favor
TUSCALOOSA, Ala. – No. 8 Alabama baseball (26-9, 8-5 SEC) was unable to contain No. 22 Arkansas (22-13, 6-7 SEC) in the later innings, as a six-run Razorbacks charge in the 8th flipped the scoreboard in the Crimson Tide's 7-5 loss on Friday at Sewell-Thomas Stadium. The defeat snapped Alabama's 18-game home winning streak, the longest active streak in Division I.
Tyler Fay was outstanding yet again in his ninth start of 2026, holding the Razorbacks to just one earned run over 6.0 strong innings, surrendering only four hits to go with two walks and four strikeouts. Matthew Heiberger (2-1) was effective out of the bullpen to open his team-leading 13th appearance, striking out two in the 7th to strand the tying run at second base. However, the southpaw ran into trouble in the 8th, issuing three hits, including a solo home run to begin the inning that tied the contest. Hagan Banks was tasked with picking up the final out of the inning with the score tied 3-3, though an error in the field allowed two unearned runs to score, giving Arkansas a permanent lead. Banks was later on the hook for a two-run home run deeper in the 8th, as the Razorbacks had suddenly built a four-run advantage.
Eric Hines recorded his second consecutive three-hit game in addition to homering for the second time in as many games, finishing 3-for-5 with an RBI. Hines gave Alabama an early one-run lead as the result of his solo homer. Brady Neal was 2-for-4 with a solo home run, two RBI and one walk, with his homer breaking a tie ballgame in the 6th. Justin Lebron and Brennan Holt both collected base-hits as well.
From Head Coach Rob Vaughn
"I thought (Tyler) Fay was unbelievable again. I thought Hunter (Dietz) was unbelievable again. Just big time SEC aces going at it, going toe-to-toe. I thought Fay was little bit better to be honest with you, a little bit better, and we get (Fay) out of the game with a 3-1 lead and turn it over to Matthew (Heiberger), you feel really good about it. (Heiberger) made some pitches to get out of the 7th. sitting in a pretty good spot, but (Arkansas) strung some at-bats together. We had a couple chances to get off the field there in the 8th and didn't, and they took advantage of it, and that's kind of the game. We had some opportunities offensively to extend that lead out a little bit. We were 0-for-4 with runners and scoring position and 2 outs. We've been really good in that. Just one of those things in the last four weeks, when those moments happen, we met the moment and got it done, and tonight we didn't. And that's baseball and we'll regroup. It was a Friday night baseball game, and we made a couple more mistakes than they did, and they took advantage of it. So, it's about regrouping and coming to work and getting after it at four o'clock tomorrow."
How It Happened
- B2 | With one out, Eric Hines launched a 425-foot solo home run to left give the Tide an early lead. (1-0, Alabama)
- T5 | Christian Turner singled through the left side with one out, while Carter Rutenbar followed with a single of his own two batters later, placing runners on the corners with two outs. Cam Kozeal then laced a double into right-center, driving in Turner, however, an 8-6-2 relay gunned down Rutenbar at the plate, the potential go-ahead run. (1-1)
- B6 | Leading off the inning, Brady Neal clubbed a solo home run to left-center to regain the lead for the Tide. (Alabama, 2-1)
- B7 | Luke Vaughn drew a leadoff walk and hustled to third on Brennan Holt's single to right. Bryce Fowler then drove in Vaughn with a fielder's choice towards second base. (Alabama, 3-1)
- T8 | Kozeal hit a home run to left field to open the inning, cutting the Alabama lead to a run. After a groundout, Nolan Souza doubled down the right field line before Zack Stewart singled into right, scoring Souza to tie the score. Following a strikeout, Kuhio Aloy lined a double down the left field line, putting two in scoring position with two outs. A groundball towards shortstop was bobbled, leading to a run, with a throwing error on the same play allowing a second run to score. After the two errors, TJ Pompey produced a two-run home run, leading to two more unearned runs. (7-3, Arkansas)
- B9 | In need of a rally, Fowler was hit by a pitch to open the inning and moved up to third on Justin Lebron's bloop single into right. Neal followed with a hard single to right of his own, plating Fowler, while a bobble in right allowed Lebron to come home as well. Even so, the rally would end there, as the following three batters were retired to end the game. (7-5, Arkansas)
Postgame Notes
- The defeat was Alabama's first loss at Sewell-Thomas Stadium since an 8-4 defeat to Washington State on Opening Day (Feb. 13)
- Eric Hines is the third different Alabama player this season to produce a home run in consecutive games, joining John Lemm (March 13-14) and Justin Lebron (March 21-22)
- Hines is also the first Tide player in 2026 to manage back-to-back three-hit games
- Bryce Fowler improved his team-leading on-base streak to 29 games
- Brady Neal extended his on-base streak to 26 games
- Justin Lebron advanced his on-base streak to 15 games
- Attendance: 5,075
Up Next
- Alabama will continue its series with No. 22 Arkansas on Saturday, April 11
- First pitch between the Crimson Tide and Razorbacks is scheduled for 4 p.m. CT, airing on SEC Network
Team Stats
Pitching:
W: Gabe Gaeckle (4-3)
L: Heiberger, Matthew (2-1)
S: Parker Coil (2)
Batting:
2B: Camden Kozeal 1 ; Nolan Souza 1 ; Kuhio Aloy 1
HR: Camden Kozeal 1 ; TJ Pompey 1
RBI: Camden Kozeal 2 ; Zack Stewart 1 ; TJ Pompey 2
Base Running:
RUNS: Camden Kozeal 1 ; Nolan Souza 1 ; Landon Schaefer 1 ; Kuhio Aloy 1 ; Christian Turner 1 ; Maika Niu 1 ; TJ Pompey 1
SB: Maika Niu 1
HBP: Zack Stewart 1
Batting:
HR: Neal, Brady 1 ; Hines, Eric 1
RBI: Fowler, Bryce 1 ; Neal, Brady 2 ; Hines, Eric 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Fowler, Bryce 1 ; Lebron, Justin 1 ; Neal, Brady 1 ; Hines, Eric 1 ; Vaughn, Luke 1
HBP: Fowler, Bryce 1 ; Lemm, John 1
