Vanderbilt lost 5-4 to No. 24 Alabama on Thursday night, April 30, after a walk-off home run in the bottom of the ninth inning.
The game was closely contested, with Vanderbilt building an early three-run lead before Alabama tied it and ultimately secured the win. The result impacts both teams as they continue their conference play.
Tommy Goodin put Vanderbilt ahead with a two-run home run in the third inning, marking his second consecutive game with a homer and bringing his season total to eleven. Colin Barczi added to the lead with a solo shot in the fourth for his ninth of the year. In the sixth inning, Rustan Rigdon hit Vanderbilt’s third home run of the night, giving them a three-run advantage.
Alabama responded throughout. After scoring once in the third, they loaded runners on base in the fifth but were caught by Brodie Johnston and Connor Fennell’s execution of a hidden ball trick at third base. Fennell pitched into the sixth inning for Vanderbilt, allowing two runs on five hits while striking out seven batters.
The Crimson Tide evened up the score at four runs apiece when Eric Hines hit a three-run homer in the bottom of the sixth. John Lemm then led off Alabama’s half of the ninth inning and delivered his seventh home run of the season—a walk-off shot to center field that ended Vanderbilt’s hopes for victory.
Due to expected inclement weather on Friday, Game 2 between Vanderbilt and Alabama is scheduled for 12:30 p.m.
