HATTIESBURG, Miss. – With the bases loaded, two outs and trailing by a run in the final frame, No. 2 seed Alabama baseball was unable to produce in the clutch as the Crimson Tide were defeated 6-5 by top-seed Southern Miss at Pete Taylor Park on Saturday. The loss ends the Tide’s 2025 campaign, with Alabama closing the spring with a 41-18 record.

Bryce Fowler put together a big day at the plate, finishing 3-for-5 with a home run and two RBI, as his two-run homer broke a 3-3 tie in the seventh. Will Hodo was 1-for-2, including a two-run home run, a walk, and a hit-by-pitch. Will Plattner connected on a solo home run in the third to plate the first run of the afternoon. Richie Bonomolo Jr. managed a double in his four at-bats, while Justin Lebron, Kade Snell, and Brady Neal earned one hit apiece.

Tyler Fay was tasked with his eighth start of season on Saturday, delivering a quality effort for his dugout. The redshirt sophomore allowed just three earned runs over 6.0 innings while surrendering just six hits and one walk to go with three strikeouts. Braylon Myers managed a scoreless seventh, though he allowed a leadoff solo homer in the eighth, cutting the Alabama lead to just a run.

Carson Ozmer (4-2) entered the game following the home run, though the Tide closer hit the first man he faced before issuing a walk. A fielder’s choice and a groundout led to an intentional walk, loading the bases with two outs. Southern Miss was able to produce a two-run single, relinquishing the Tide’s advantage. Alabama didn’t go down without a fight, loading the bases with two outs, though a fielder’s choice eventually ended the contest.  

From Head Coach Rob Vaughn

“These journeys are fun. Every year has its ups and downs, every year you have a different group, different mentality, different culture, and I have a lot of kids hurting out there right now because it meant a lot to them. They poured their heart and soul into Alabama baseball. There’s a lot of kids that laid the foundation for what Alabama baseball is going to be. These journeys are always so hard then they end because you love these kids. What I am most proud of is the men that they are and who they are as people. What we did this year, as good as it was, wasn’t good enough, and we are going to be better. But at the end of the day, I’ve got a group of guys that are going to be unbelievable husbands one day and unbelievable dads one day, and at the end of the day that’s what our job is all about, is helping young people grow. It’s been a really fun ride with them, I love them, and we’ll be back.”

How It Happened

• T3 | Will Plattner lifted a one-out solo home run to open the scoring. (1-0, Alabama)
• B3 | Southern Miss responded with a two-run home run. (2-1, Southern Miss)
• T4 | Kade Snell drew a one-out walk, and two batters later, Will Hodo slugged a two-run home run to left. (3-2, Alabama)
• B4 | The Golden Eagles countered with a solo home run. (3-3)
• T7 | Brady Neal lined a two-out single to right, leading to Bryce Fowler’s two-run home run to center. (5-3, Alabama)
• B8 | USM opened the inning with a solo home run before a two-out, two-run single gave the hosts the late lead. (6-5, Southern Miss)

Postgame Notes

• Alabama finishes the 2025 season with 41 wins, its most victories in a season since the Tide managed 43 wins in 2023
• Tyler Fay matched his career-high with 6.0 innings pitched on Saturday, marking the second consecutive start he totaled 6.0 innings
• Fay ended the season with a 3.00 ERA (12.0 IP/4 ER) over his final two starts
• Will Plattner collected his first career home run to give Alabama its first run of the day
• Will Hodo slugged his 15^th home run of the campaign on Saturday
• Saturday marked the eighth game this season Alabama produced three-plus home runs
• Bryce Fowler produced three hits for the sixth time this season, and the first occasion since May 4 at Vanderbilt
• Fowler also extended his on-base streak to 12 games
• Kade Snell ended 2025 having reached base in 53 of his 57 games
• Richie Bonomolo Jr. also reached base in 53 of 58 games