The Crimson Tide notched its third consecutive league series win for the first time since 2023
4/4/2026
NORMAN, OK – No. 16 Alabama baseball (25-8, 8-4 SEC) leaned on an outstanding effort from its stable of arms, as the Crimson Tide took down No. 11 Oklahoma (21-10, 5-7 SEC) by a score of 3-2 on Saturday at Kimrey Family Stadium. The victory secured the series win for Alabama, marking the Tide's first league road series win of 2026.
The Tide pitching staff was brilliant on Saturday, first started by Myles Upchurch, who made his eighth start of the spring. Upchurch (4-2) fought through his command in the road environment, issuing five walks over 3.0 innings, but the freshman held the Sooners to just one run and three hits while picking up two strikeouts. Ashton Crowther was vastly important to the win, posting 3.2 innings of one-run ball out of the bullpen. The southpaw surrendered four hits and only one earned run over his 11 outs, striking out three. Matthew Heiberger stranded the tying run on base in the 7th, striking out the only man he faced in the inning. In the 8th, the left-hander worked around a walk, again ending the frame with a punchout. Hagan Banks made quick work of the Sooners in the final inning, notching his fifth save after setting OU down in order to finalize the victory.
Alabama managed only five hits and three runs, as the Tide plated all three of its runs in its initial turn at the plate. Bryce Fowler was 2-for-5, scoring a run in the 1st following a wild pitch. Justin Lebron's lone hit, a single in the 1st, later resulted in him crossing the plate caused by a passed ball. Eric Hines was 1-for-3 in the designated hitter spot, as his flyball into right-center forced in a run after Oklahoma's Jason Walk mishandled the ball in center. John Lemm was responsible for a hit, finishing 1-for-4.
-UA-
RTR,
Diamond Tide
4/4/2026
NORMAN, OK – No. 16 Alabama baseball (25-8, 8-4 SEC) leaned on an outstanding effort from its stable of arms, as the Crimson Tide took down No. 11 Oklahoma (21-10, 5-7 SEC) by a score of 3-2 on Saturday at Kimrey Family Stadium. The victory secured the series win for Alabama, marking the Tide's first league road series win of 2026.
The Tide pitching staff was brilliant on Saturday, first started by Myles Upchurch, who made his eighth start of the spring. Upchurch (4-2) fought through his command in the road environment, issuing five walks over 3.0 innings, but the freshman held the Sooners to just one run and three hits while picking up two strikeouts. Ashton Crowther was vastly important to the win, posting 3.2 innings of one-run ball out of the bullpen. The southpaw surrendered four hits and only one earned run over his 11 outs, striking out three. Matthew Heiberger stranded the tying run on base in the 7th, striking out the only man he faced in the inning. In the 8th, the left-hander worked around a walk, again ending the frame with a punchout. Hagan Banks made quick work of the Sooners in the final inning, notching his fifth save after setting OU down in order to finalize the victory.
Alabama managed only five hits and three runs, as the Tide plated all three of its runs in its initial turn at the plate. Bryce Fowler was 2-for-5, scoring a run in the 1st following a wild pitch. Justin Lebron's lone hit, a single in the 1st, later resulted in him crossing the plate caused by a passed ball. Eric Hines was 1-for-3 in the designated hitter spot, as his flyball into right-center forced in a run after Oklahoma's Jason Walk mishandled the ball in center. John Lemm was responsible for a hit, finishing 1-for-4.
From Head Coach
Just a gritty win. We scored three which is not ideal but the umpire behind the plate today, we know him, he's a good dude, but he had a really tight zone. You would have had no idea the way Myles (Upchurch) carried himself. He rolls his ankle in the first coming off the mound and he just gutted it out. He could of kind of tapped out in a big game, but that dude wants the ball in those moments. Those innings he ate up were huge. Ashton (Crowther) was outstanding. The one run he did give up, I think there was a combined 70 mph exit velo on all those hits, but just a great job by him. The ballpark just played very different today, it's been a good place to hit for two days and it was a miserable place to hit today. Just a gritty win, an unbelievably well-pitched game with (Matt) Heiberger and (Hagan) Banks shutting it down, so I'm really proud of the guys.How It Happened
- T1 | Bryce Fowler and Justin Lebron both singled to left before Brady Neal walked, loading the bases with nobody out. After a pair of strikeouts nearly saw OU escape the jam, Fowler eventually scored on a wild pitch, with Lebron later coming home on a passed ball. Eric Hines, with Neal at third, lifted a high fly ball into a windy sky, which was mishandled in center and allowed Neal to cross the plate. (3-0, Alabama)
- B1 | Trey Gambill worked a leadoff walk and reached second after a groundout. With one out, Brendan Brock singled to right field to plate Gambill. (3-1, Alabama)
- B5 | With two outs and the bases clear, Drew Dickerson and Alec Blair both produced infield singles, with Deiten LaChance drawing a walk to load the bases. Kyle Branch then singled towards second to allow one run to score, though LaChance overran the bag at second, with Lebron applying the tag near third before the tying run could cross the plate. (3-2, Alabama)
Postgame Notes
- Alabama has now won three consecutive SEC series for the first time since winning the final three league series in 2023
- Saturday's win secured Alabama's first SEC series win on the road since sweeping Texas A&M in College Station a season ago
- The Crimson Tide is now 8-4 in SEC play, marking the Tide's best 12-game start in SEC play since also beginning 8-4 in conference action in 2014
- Ashton Crowther's 3.2 innings out of the bullpen marked the longest appearance by a Tide reliever this season
- Bryce Fowler improved his team-leading on-base streak to 27 games
- Saturday marked Fowler's team-leading 15th multi-hit game this season
- Brady Neal extended his on-base streak to 24 games
- Justin Lebron advanced his on-base streak to 13 games
- Jason Torres' nine-game on-base streak was snapped
- Attendance: 3,906
Up Next
- Alabama will return home for a midweek matchup with Samford on Tuesday, April 7
- First pitch between the Crimson Tide and Bulldogs is scheduled for 6 p.m. CT, airing on SEC Network+
-UA-
RTR,
Diamond Tide
