Alabama opened the Tuscaloosa Super Regional with a commanding 8‑0 win over St. John’s, a performance that has put the Crimson Tide on the cusp of a College World Series berth and will be televised on ESPN2.
Pitching dominance and early fireworks
Right‑hander Tyler Fay anchored the effort, scattering just two hits over 7 ⅓ innings while striking out nine batters, a display that left the opposing lineup flailing.
The offense struck early, jumping to a 6‑0 lead by the fourth inning. Brennan Holt ignited the scoring with a two‑run double off starter Liam O’Leary in the second, and Justin Lebron later added a two‑run double in the eighth, finishing with three hits.
Eric Hines contributed two hits of his own, and the fourth inning saw a ten‑batter rally that featured a double by Fowler sandwiched between two bases‑loaded walks from Peyton Steele and Brady Neal, extending the lead.
Reliever Ashton Crowther closed out the game, recording the final five outs in his 18th relief appearance of the season, sealing the shutout. The teams will meet again on Sunday, with the winner earning a spot in the College World Series.