By Caleb Connelley
Alabama went on the road this past weekend, down south to Jacksonville, FL. Playing in the Jax College Baseball Classic, in the round-robin tournament, Alabama was set for three tough tests, against Coastal Carolina on Friday, NC State on Saturday, and Ohio State on Sunday. The Tide led by head coach Rob Vaughn held a 5-0 record coming into the tournament, these three games would be some of the team's toughest competition outside the always dominant SEC.
Game One: vs Coastal Carolina (4-1)
In game one of the Jax College Baseball Classic, the undefeated Tide were set to take on a Sun Belt powerhouse, Coastal Carolina. The first test of the young season, and the Crimson Tide passed with flying colors, defeating the Chanticleers with a score of 9-2. Despite recording only 3 hits, Alabama capitalized on the Chanticleer's pitching struggles, drawing 12 walks and benefiting from multiple errors.
Zane Adams got the nod late Friday afternoon and dominated the deep Coastal lineup. Pitching 4.1 innings, allowing only 2 hits, 1 earned run, striking out 6, after facing 19 batters. Adams wasn't the only one to take care of the Coastal lineup on Friday, the Tide relief pitching staff came in and did the exact same. Tyler Fray, Packy Bradley-Cooney, Connor Ball, and Bryalon Myers, shut the door on the Chanticleers. The Crimson Tide pitching staff allowed five hits, and only two runs the entire game. The game remained close until the fifth inning, when Alabama broke it open with a five-run surge. The fifth inning featured 2 hits, 5 walks, and a hit-by-pitch, resulting in the Crimson Tide to extend their lead significantly.
Game Two: vs #12 NC State (3-2)
In game two of the tournament, Alabama shuts out #12 ranked NC State, keeping to their winning ways, and improving to 7-0. The Tide continued their impressive start with a dominant 4-0 victory over the 12th-ranked NC State Wolfpack. Behind a stellar pitching performance and timely hitting, Alabama remained undefeated. Alabama's pitching staff was the story of the night, holding Wolfpack hitters to just three hits while stranding eight baserunners. The Crimson Tide arms consistently worked out of trouble, shutting down any potential NC State rallies, including key outs with runners in scoring position in the last two innings.
NC State's offense never found a rhythm, managing only three hits throughout the game. Their best scoring chance came late, with runners on second and third in both the eighth and ninth innings. However, the Wolfpack failed to capitalize, as Alabama's pitching staff delivered in high-pressure situations to maintain the shutout. The Tide struck first in the second inning when Will Hodo reached base on a single and later came around to score on an RBI double by Andrew Plattner. Colby Norton extended the lead in the fourth inning with a solo home run himself. Kade Snell put a couple hits together himself, ending the day 2-for-4, with a run.
With this win, Alabama improved to 7-0 on the season, proving they can compete with top-tier competition. Their ability to pair dominant pitching with opportunistic offense has made them one of the teams to watch for in 2025.
Game Three: vs Ohio State (1-4)
The Alabama Crimson Tide pulled off one of the most dramatic comebacks in program history, rallying from a 10-run deficit to defeat Ohio State 12-10 in walk-off fashion. Will Hodo's three-run blast in the bottom of the ninth sealed the improbable victory, keeping the Tide's perfect season intact at 8-0.
The game started disastrously for Alabama, as Ohio State's offense exploded for 10 runs by the fourth inning. The Buckeyes were led by a pair of three-run homers, one from Lee Ellis and another from Tyler Pettorini, that put the Tide in a deep hole early. Alabama's starting pitchers struggled to contain the Buckeyes' aggressive lineup, and it looked like the game could turn into a blowout. Trailing 10-0 in the bottom of the fourth, Alabama finally found some spark at the plate. Justin Lebron sparked a rally with a three-run homer to right-center field, cutting the deficit to 10-3.
Lebron struck again in the seventh inning, launching another three-run shot to cut the lead again, 10-7. The momentum had shifted, and the Tide weren't done yet. In the eighth. Kade Snell lined a two-run double down the right-field line, suddenly making it a one-run game at 10-9. With Alabama down to its final three outs, the stage was set for a thrilling finish. In the bottom of the ninth, the Tide put two runners on base before Will Hodo delivered the knockout blow. Hodo hit a towering three-run home run, completing the comeback and sending the Alabama dugout into a frenzy.
Hodo finished the game 2-for-4 with a double, a home run, and three RBIs, cementing his place as the player of the game. While the offense led the change in the comeback, the bullpen played a crucial role in keeping Ohio State off the board after the fourth inning. Tate Robertson was the star out of the pen, tossing the final three innings without allowing a run while striking out four. His shutdown performance gave Alabama the opportunity to climb back into the game and ultimately secure the win.
Following the game, Alabama head coach Rob Vaughn praised his team's resilience:
"This was an unbelievable effort. We were down big, but these guys never gave up. They kept battling, and that's what great teams do. This is a win we'll remember for a long time."
With the thrilling comeback victory, Alabama finished the Jax College Baseball Classic with a perfect 3-0 record, including a shutout win over No. 12 NC State. The Tide will return home to Tuscaloosa for their next game against Jacksonville State as they look to remain undefeated.
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