Coached by Rob Vaughn, the Alabama Crimson Tide baseball team is gearing up for a historic Super Regional series against St. John's, a clash that marks the first-ever meeting between the two programs.
Alabama enters the best‑of‑three matchup as the No. 7 national seed with a 40‑19 record and a No. 16 ranking in the USA TODAY Sports Baseball Coaches Poll, while St. John's arrives unranked at 36‑24 after capturing the Big East regular‑season and tournament titles.
The series opens Saturday at Sewell‑Thomas Stadium in Tuscaloosa, with Game 1 slated for 8 p.m. CT on ESPN2 and a Sunday afternoon Game 2 at 2 p.m. CT.
Both teams have rolled through their respective regionals, with Alabama outscoring its opponents 37‑15 across three games and St. John's posting a 32‑17 margin.
Key Players to Watch
Alabama’s lineup features standout performances from Brady Neal, who delivered a game‑winning home run in the 11th inning against Oklahoma State, as well as Bryce Fowler and Justin Lebron, each collecting six hits during the regional stretch. Freshman outfielder Eric Hines contributed five hits and two home runs, while pitcher Zane Adams turned in a strong start, allowing just two unearned runs over six innings. For St. John's, Adam Agresti leads the offense with 19 home runs and added a grand slam in a 5‑4 win over Florida State, while Jayder Raifstanger paces the team with a .336 batting average. The Red Storm also count veteran Dave Neal and former MLB infielder Devon Travis among their contributors.
Series Stakes
Alabama is chasing its first appearance in the College World Series in Omaha since 1999, a milestone that has eluded the program for more than two decades. St. John's, meanwhile, is aiming to break a 43‑year drought and secure its own first berth in the national championship event, making the stakes especially high for both sides.
Broadcast Details
Game 1 will be televised nationally on ESPN2 and will also stream on ESPN+, while Game 2 is set for a 2 p.m. CT start on Sunday. Both contests promise to draw significant attention as the Crimson Tide and the Red Storm prepare to make history.
With the nation watching, the upcoming series not only highlights the competitive balance of college baseball but also underscores the growing prominence of both programs as they vie for a spot on the sport’s biggest stage.