Alabama baseball will host Super Regional after winning Oklahoma State thriller

For the first time since 2006, Alabama baseball is set to host a Super Regional in Tuscaloosa. In a heart-stopping thriller that stretched into extra innings, the Crimson Tide outlasted Oklahoma State 9-7, anchored by a heroic three-run blast from Brady Neal in the 11th.

A Legacy-Defining Victory

Head coach Rob Vaughn emphasized the significance of the moment, telling his squad that elite programs are remembered for their extraordinary postseason achievements. "You honor teams that do special, special things," Vaughn said. "I told them, you want to be remembered at this place, you go do something special. And they’re in the process of doing that right now."

The win was secured on the mound by Hagan Banks, who dominated the final three innings and racked up six strikeouts to shut down the Cowboys.

Building the Lead

Playing as the away team at Sewell-Thomas Stadium per NCAA regulations, Alabama wasted no time. A Brennan Holt RBI single in the second inning got the Tide on the board. In the third, Alabama capitalized on Oklahoma State errors, with Brady Neal drawing a bases-loaded walk and John Lemm delivering a clutch two-run single into right field.

Vaughn praised Lemm’s grit, noting that the designated hitter is playing through a broken finger. "He’s playing through that because it matters to him and he wants to empty the tank," Vaughn said.

Trading Blows

Oklahoma State fought back behind a Deacon Pomeroy two-run homer in the third and a wild pitch. After Jason Torres extended Alabama’s lead with a solo home run in the fifth—his second long ball in as many games—the Cowboys surged back in the sixth and seventh innings with home runs from Avery Ortiz, Brock Thompson, and Kollin Ritchie to take a 6-5 lead.

Starter Myles Upchurch put in a strong shift, working six innings with nine strikeouts, but the Tide found themselves in a hole until Eric Hines stepped up in the eighth and crushed a game-tying solo home run to keep the season alive.

A Dramatic Finish

After escaping bases-loaded jams in the eighth and ninth innings, the game remained deadlocked at 5-5. The 11th inning proved to be the deciding frame when Neal stepped to the plate with two outs. With two strikes, the catcher connected on a pitch and sent it over the right-field wall to break the game open.

"Just swing hard in case you hit it man," Neal said after the game. "I just saw spin out of the hand and tried to hit a home run."

While Oklahoma State pushed across a final run in the bottom of the 11th, the Crimson Tide defense held firm to clinch the victory. Alabama now turns its focus to next weekend, where they will host the Super Regional at Sewell-Thomas Stadium.