Alabama
26-11, 0
Arkansas
24-13, 0
| Team | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | Runs R | Hits H | Errors E |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Arkansas | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 3 | 6 | 2 |
| Alabama | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 9 | 1 |
No. 8 Baseball Falls 3-2 to No. 22 Arkansas on Sunday
4/12/2026 5:35:00 PM | Baseball
The Crimson Tide left 12 runners on base in the one-run defeat
TUSCALOOSA, Ala. – No. 8 Alabama baseball (26-11, 8-7 SEC) was unable to salvage its series finale with No. 22 Arkansas (24-13, 8-7 SEC), as the Crimson Tide was bested 3-2 by the Razorbacks on Sunday at Sewell-Thomas Stadium.
Myles Upchurch crafted arguably the most impressive start of his young career on Sunday, limiting the Hogs to just to two earned runs and four hits over 6.0-plus innings, allowing only two walks while striking out six. The freshman punched out four consecutive batters between the 1st and 2nd innings, having left the ballgame after the first two men he faced in the 7th reached base. Ashton Crowther (2-2) provided 3.0 solid innings of relief, though the southpaw saw the Hogs plate the go-ahead run in the 8th as the result of a two-out RBI double. Crowther was responsible for the lone run in the 8th in addition to two hits, two walks and two strikeouts.
After a lineup shuffle on Sunday, Justin Lebron was placed in the cleanup spot and finished 2-for-3 with two doubles, one RBI, two walks and a stolen base. Andrew Purdy drove in a run as part of a 1-for-3 day, while eight of the Tide's starting nine produced at least one hit.
From Head Coach Rob Vaughn
Obviously a tough one there. Same kind of thing, you see a late lead evaporate. Late, we had a lot of opportunities to extend that lead there and we weren't able to extend it. If you look to the seventh with second, third, nobody out, not being able to push one across, which hurts, but wasn't the only one. We had opportunities earlier in the game too. It's going to take a two-out hit to do it but just couldn't quite get that. Had a couple opportunities to get off the field during the eighth and didn't do it. And, you know, that's a tough one. I thought Myles Upchurch was absolutely incredible. And Ashton Crowther, he was unbelievable. I think that's Myles' best start of the year. Just efficient. He was mixing pitches, had everything working. And when he comes out and does that, we got to take advantage of that offensively and get him a win there. We just weren't able to do it so that one stings and I can't sugarcoat it any other way, but now, I'm going to be really frustrated about this the next hour or so, and then when I leave the park, we've got to turn our attention to UAB and Texas this week.
How It Happened
- B2 | Justin Lebron opened the inning with a walk, while Eric Hines' base-hit to right pushed Lebron to third. Andrew Purdy then started the afternoon's scoring, lining a single into right to drive in Lebron. (1-0, Alabama)
- B3 | Chase Kroberger sent a groundball to third, though an error by TJ Pompey allowed Kroberger to reach. Brennan Holt then drew a one-out walk, with Lebron swatting a double to left to bring Kroberger home. (2-0, Alabama)
- T6 | Ryder Helfrick slugged a one-out triple into the right-center gap and later scored following Maika Niu's sacrifice fly to right. (2-1, Alabama)
- T7 | Damian Ruiz began the frame with a double down the left field line, with Kuhio Aloy drawing a walk after him. Nolan Souza then bounced a single up the middle to score Ruiz. (2-2)
- T8 | Helfrick drew a one-out walk and stole second with two outs. Cam Kozeal then provided the eventual winning RBI, chopping a double down the right field line to plate Helfrick (3-2, Arkansas)
Postgame Notes
- Myles Upchurch's 6.0 innings on Sunday tied his career high, matching his previous season-long outing set against North Florida on March 8
- Eric Hines now owns a six-game hitting streak dating to March 17, posting a .476 average (10-for-21) with two home runs, four RBI, two walks, two hit-by-pitch and six runs scored in that span
- Justin Lebron also stretched his hitting streak to six games, managing a .308 average (8-for-26) with two doubles, three RBI, two walks and five stolen bases since the streak began
- Lebron also advanced his on-base streak to 17 games
- Bryce Fowler improved his team-leading on-base streak to 31 games
- Brady Neal extended his on-base streak to 28 games
- Attendance: 4,235
Up Next
- Alabama will travel to Birmingham to take on UAB at Regions Field on Tuesday, April 14
- First pitch between the Crimson Tide and Blazers is scheduled for 6 p.m. CT, airing on ESPN+
Team Stats
Pitching:
W: Gabe Gaeckle (5-3)
L: Crowther, Ashton (2-2)
S: Ethan McElvain (2)
Batting:
2B: Camden Kozeal 1 ; Damian Ruiz 1
3B: Ryder Helfrick 1
RBI: Maika Niu 1 ; Camden Kozeal 1 ; Nolan Souza 1
SF: Maika Niu 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Ryder Helfrick 2 ; Damian Ruiz 1
SB: Ryder Helfrick 1
HBP: Damian Ruiz 1
Batting:
2B: Lebron, Justin 2
RBI: Lebron, Justin 1 ; Purdy, Andrew 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Lebron, Justin 1 ; Kroberger, Chase 1
SB: Holt, Brennan 1 ; Lebron, Justin 1
