TUSCALOOSA, Ala. – Alabama baseball (5-1) saw its lineup erupt on Friday at Sewell-Thomas Stadium, as the Crimson Tide opened its weekend series against Rhode Island (0-5) with a 19-4 win. The game was made official after seven innings due to the 10-run mercy rule.

Justin Lebron showcased his superstardom en route to the victory, finishing 3-for-4 with two home runs, one walk, five RBI and three runs scored. Brady Neal closed a perfect 3-for-3 with a double, one home run, a sacrifice fly and three runs scored. Justin Osterhouse recorded his first hit in a Crimson Tide uniform, clubbing a two-run homer as part of the Tide’s eight-run 2nd inning. The junior also contributed an RBI single in the 3rd, encompassing his 2-for-4 evening.

Brennan Holt posted a 2-for-3 line from the nine-hole, including a double and a walk to go with two RBI, while Jason Torres’ lone hit was a three-run double to aid Alabama in its early offensive output. Peyton Steele was 2-for-3 with a pair of a singles, with Bryce Fowler collecting an RBI single, a walk, a hit-by-pitch and a stolen base in his four plate appearances. Andrew Purdy lined an RBI base-hit to left in the 2nd and was hit by a pitch, accounting for his 1-for-3 evening.

Tyler Fay (1-1) earned his first win of the new spring, tossing 5.0 innings while allowing just three hits and three runs to go with two walks and five strikeouts. Connor Lehman was brilliant in his lone inning of work, striking out three while scattering a one-out single in his first appearance of 2026. Owen Sarna made his Crimson Tide debut in the 7th, allowing one run on two hits before picking up the final three outs of the ballgame.

From Head Coach Rob Vaughn

Obviously a good night, right? We’ve been waiting for that for what feels like three weeks, even though it’s only been about seven days. But just a good night all around, just a good baseball game. (Tyler) Fay was electric in the first and just really efficient. Sometimes it can be hard to pitch in those games. Pitchers love run support, but every half-inning he’s sitting there for a half hour and I know that sounds silly, but that can be a challenge. (Fay) did a great job staying locked in, making pitches. Just a relentless approach offensively. (Justin Lebron’s) homer in the first let everybody breathe a little bit and once he did that, it’s like ‘alright, here we go.’ And so the thing I was most proud of is they just kept coming. They didn’t stop. It was really good to see just the relentlessness of the offensive approach tonight. That’s the first game we’ve had like that. You love starting the series that way. But at two o’clock tomorrow, its zero-zero again, and none of this matters. Can we keep that same edge? It’s easy to have that edge coming off of what we would consider a tougher game on Wednesday, but when you do have success, learning to handle that success and still show off the same edge.

How It Happened

• B1 | Bryce Fowler was hit by a pitch to lead off the Tide’s half of the inning before Justin Lebron lifted a towering two-run home run over the batter’s eye in center field. After the homer, Brady Neal doubled to right with a wild pitch moving him to third. Andrew Purdy then singled to left, scoring Neal. (3-0, Alabama)
• B2 I Peyton Steele led off the frame with a hard single through the left side, while Brennan Holt followed with a ringing double to right, placing two in scoring position. Fowler then lined an RBI single into center to bring in Steele. After Fowler stole second and Lebron walked, Neal lifted a fly ball to left that was mishandled by the URI left fielder, scoring Holt. With the bases loaded, Jason Torres rifled a bases-clearing double to left-center. Purdy then reached after an error at shortstop, putting runners at the corners, leading to Luke Vaughn’s sacrifice fly to center. Following Vaughn, Justin Osterhouse capped the eight-run frame with a two-run homer to right. (11-0, Alabama)
• B3 I Neal initiated the inning with a solo home run to center. Two batters later, Purdy was plunked before Vaughn walked, putting two on with one out. Osterhouse took advantage of the scoring chance, sending a single up the middle to score Purdy. (13-0, Alabama)
• B4 I Fowler began the inning with a walk, later reaching third after singles by Lebron and Neal. A Torres groundout to third allowed Fowler to race home. (14-0, Alabama)
• T5 I Rhode Island found the scoreboard for the first time after a three-run home run. (14-3, Alabama)
• B5 I Vaughn was hit by a pitch to lead off the inning with Osterhouse drawing a walk behind him. Evan Taylor, pinch-hitting for Steele, was also plunked, loading the bases. Holt sent a two-run single through the right side to plate both Vaughn and Osterhouse. Two batters later, Lebron slugged his second home run of the night, a three-run blast to left-center. (19-3, Alabama)
• T7 I The Rams managed two doubles in the inning, leading to a run. (19-4, Alabama)

Postgame Notes

• The Crimson Tide set new season-highs in runs (19), hits (15), doubles (3), home runs (4) and total bases (30) in Friday’s win
• Alabama’s 19 runs were its most in a game since producing 20 runs against Jacksonville State on Feb. 25, 2025
• Justin Lebron’s multi-homer game marked the fourth such game of his collegiate career and was his first since hitting two home runs against Jacksonville State on Feb. 25 of last season
• Lebron’s five RBI were his most in a single game since producing six RBI against Ohio State on Feb. 23, 2025
• Justin Osterhouse joined Luke Vaughn as the second Alabama player this season who’s first hit in a Crimson Tide uniform resulted in a home run
• Jason Torres’s four RBI were the most by the veteran third baseman since managing five RBI against Bradley on Feb. 16 of last season
• Connor Lehman’s three strikeouts marked a new single-game career high, surpassing his previous best of two strikeouts set in his collegiate debut against Samford on April 1, 2025
• Attendance: 4,598

Up Next

• Alabama will continue its three-game set against Rhode Island on Saturday, Feb. 21 at Sewell-Thomas Stadium
• First pitch is scheduled for 2 p.m. CT, airing on SEC Network+