NASHVILLE, Tenn. – A scoreless game through five innings, No. 18 Alabama baseball surrendered 12 runs over the final three frames, as the Crimson Tide were defeated 12-2 by No. 15 Vanderbilt at Hawkins Field on Friday. A six-run Commodores eighth initiated the 10-run rule, dropping the Tide to 35-11 overall and 12-10 in Southeastern Conference play.

Tyler Fay (0-1) gave Alabama quite the effort on the mound, tossing 5.0+ innings while allowing just three runs on seven hits to go with five strikeouts. Fay didn’t surrender a run until the sixth, as three consecutive singles forced his exit. Matthew Heiberger entered in the sixth and was responsible for two hits as well as a strikeout in a scoreless inning of work. Connor Lehman, Coulson Buchanan and Beau Bryans were each on the hook for three earned runs in their respective efforts out of the bullpen.

Justin Lebron was the only man in the Tide lineup to drive in a run, as the Alabama shortstop finished 1-for-3. Kade Snell was 1-for-3 with a double, while Bryce Fowler, Coleman Mizell and Jason Torres each managed one hit apiece.

From Head Coach Rob Vaughn

“That was a typical Friday night SEC game through five innings. Tyler Fay and JD Thompson were both outstanding. A sloppy sixth defensively and command issues late made it a tough finish. Every time this group has needed to respond, they’ve rung the bell and done it, and I expect the same tomorrow. We will strap it up and get after it again at 2:00 p.m. tomorrow.”

How It Happened

• B6 I The Commodores opened the inning with three consecutive singles, leading to a run. After a fielder’s choice placed runners at the corners with one out, a squeeze play and a two-out single to left drove in two more runs. (3-0, Vanderbilt)
• B7 I A leadoff triple came around to score following single to left. With one out, back-to-back doubles brought in two more runs. (6-0, Vanderbilt)
• T8 I Jason Torres led off the inning with a single, while a productive out advanced him to second. After Bryce Fowler’s base-hit placed runners on the corners, Justin Lebron bounced a single up the middle to score Torres. With Snell at the plate, a wild pitch paved the way for Fowler to score. (6-2, Vanderbilt)
• B8 I A single and a walk led to a three-run home run. After the homer, the Commodores forced three consecutive walks to load the bases, as a single into center brought home two additional runs. Following a hit-by-pitch that loaded the bases for the second time, a walk forced in the game-ending run. (12-2, Vanderbilt)

Postgame Notes

• The defeat snaps Alabama’s five-game winning streak that began on April 19
• In four starts since being moved into the Tide starting rotation, Tyler Fay has posted a 4.32 ERA (8 ER/16.2 IP)
• Kade Snell advanced his hitting streak to eight games on Friday, going 14-for-32 (.437) with one double, three homers, 11 RBI and six walks in that stretch
• Richie Bonomolo Jr. extended his on-base streak to nine games
• Bryce Fowler and Justin Lebron stretched their on-base streaks to eight games
• Brady Neal’s 10-game hitting streak and 16-game on-base streak came to a close on Friday
• Garrett Staton snapped his six-game hitting streak in the defeat
• ATTENDANCE: 3,802

­­Up Next

• Alabama and Vanderbilt will resume the series on Saturday, May 3
• First pitch between the Crimson Tide and Commodores is set for 2 p.m. CT, airing on SEC Network+