Alabama
33-17, 14-11
South Carolina
22-28, 7-18
| Team | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | Runs R | Hits H | Errors E |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Alabama | 0 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 3 | 0 | 8 | 9 | 0 |
| South Carolina | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 3 | 4 | 1 |
No. 19 Baseball Claims Series Opener, Tops South Carolina 8-3
5/8/2026 9:25:00 PM | Baseball
Tyler Fay produced 10 strikeouts, Luke Vaughn slugged two homers in the win
COLUMBIA, S.C. – No. 19 Alabama baseball (33-17, 14-11 SEC) leaned on a career day at the plate from Luke Vaughn and a strong start from Tyler Fay, as the Crimson Tide opened its series at South Carolina (22-28, 7-18 SEC) with an 8-3 win at Founders Park on Friday.
Vaughn managed his first-career multi-homer game on Friday, as Vaughn finished 2-for-4 with three RBI. The Tide first baseman first clubbed a solo home run to kick-start a four-run 2nd inning before lining a two-run homer into left in the 8th. Justin Lebron was also responsible for three RBI, as the junior drilled a three-run home run to close the 2nd. Bryce Fowler finished 1-for-5 with one RBI, while Eric Hines closed 1-for-5 with a triple. As well, Brady Neal, Jason Torres and Peyton Steele all collected one hit each.
Tyler Fay (8-3) crafted one of his finest performances of the 2026 season, holding the Gamecocks to just one run over 7.0 innings, allowing only two hits and two walks while striking out 10. Fay surrendered both hits in the 4th and was responsible for a total of eight groundball outs throughout the evening. Sam Mitchell tossed the final 2.0 innings, giving up two hits and two runs while striking out three to supplement the victory.
From Head Coach Rob Vaughn
"I thought coming out of the gate, we were as on time with the heater as we've been in weeks. We just took (Amp Phillips') fastball away early. When you're on time with the heater, you can see the secondary stuff at a way better level. And Tyler Fay did exactly what he needed to do when you get a lead like that. (South Carolina) didn't really have anything going, their energy wasn't great tonight and when you see that you have to bury them with strikes. A great job out of Tyler tonight, it was a workmanlike start out of him, and now it's on to tomorrow."
How It Happened
- T2 | With two outs, Luke Vaughn lined a solo home run to left. After the homer, Peyton Steele and Brennan Holt both earned walks, leading to Justin Lebron's three-run home run to left. (4-0, Alabama)
- B4 | Talmadge LeCroy opened the inning with a double to left and later scored after KJ Scobey's two-out RBI single through the left side. (4-1, Alabama)
- T7 | After a groundout opened the inning, Lebron reached on a throwing error by the third baseman. Neal then singled to right placing runners on the corners, with Bryce Fowler driving in a run with a productive groundout to second. (5-1, Alabama)
- T8 | John Lemm worked a leadoff walk, and two batters later, Vaughn produced his second home run of the night to score two. Peyton Steele then singled up the middle before Jojo Williamson bounced a single into right. With runners at the corners, a wild pitch would allowed Steele to cross the plate. (8-1, Alabama)
- B8 | Will Craddock opened the inning with a single to left, while a two-out double from Ethan Lizama placed two in scoring position. The Gamecocks then scored both men after two wild pitches. (8-3, Alabama)
Postgame Notes
- Tyler Fay totaled 7.0 innings on Friday to mark the 12th consecutive start he's pitched at least 5.0-plus innings
- Fay notched 10 strikeouts in the win, the third start this spring he's recorded at least 10 strikeouts (March 20 vs. Florida / March 6 vs. North Florida)
- Luke Vaughn managed the first multi-homer game of his career and is third Tide player this season to slug two home runs in one game (Bryce Fowler, April 2 / Justin Lebron, Feb. 20)
- Eric Hines produced his first-career triple in the 6th
- Jojo Williamson's single in the 8th marked his first collegiate hit
- Brady Neal extended his on-base streak to 40 games
- Jason Torres has now reached base in seven consecutive games and owns a six-game hitting streak
- Torres has produced a .333 average (6-for-18) with three home runs, six RBI, two walks and four runs scored since the streak began
- Justin Lebron has now reached base in six consecutive games
- Attendance" 6,368
Up Next
- Alabama will continue its series with South Carolina on Saturday, May 9
- The Crimson Tide and Gamecocks are scheduled for a 12 p.m. CT first pitch, airing on SEC Network
Team Stats
Pitching:
W: Fay, Tyler (8-3)
L: Amp Phillips (3-7)
Batting:
3B: Hines, Eric 1
HR: Lebron, Justin 1 ; Vaughn, Luke 2
RBI: Lebron, Justin 3 ; Fowler, Bryce 1 ; Vaughn, Luke 3
Base Running:
RUNS: Lebron, Justin 1 ; Williamson, Jojo 1 ; Lemm, John 1 ; Vaughn, Luke 2 ; Steele, Peyton 2 ; Holt, Brennan 1
Batting:
2B: Talmadge LeCroy 1 ; Ethan Lizama 1
RBI: KJ Scobey 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Will Craddock 1 ; Talmadge LeCroy 1 ; Ethan Lizama 1
HBP: Talmadge LeCroy 1 ; Ethan Lizama 1
