Tide Drown Rams to Complete First Series Sweep of 2026

TUSCALOOSA, Ala. — The Alabama Crimson Tide (7-1) completes the sweep of Rhode Island (0-7) with an 11-1 run-rule win in leg two of Saturday's double header.

"Just proud of the guys for their professional approach. They found out 9 o'clock that we were playing two today." said Alabama head coach Rob Vaughn following the 11-1 victory, "Just rang the bell. That's a long, long day."

Myles Upchurch picked up his second career win in just as many collegiate starts. The freshman tossed five shutout innings, scattering three hits and a walk while striking out seven.

The Crimson Tide got started fast in the back half of the twin bill. Justin Lebron launched a solo shot, his fifth jack of the season, to push the Crimson Tide out to a fast 1-0 first inning lead.

Alabama added one more thanks to a Justin Osterhouse bases loaded walk to give the Tide a 2-0 advantage.

While Upchurch continued to deal in the top of the frames, the Tide began to slowly add on to its lead. Tacking on another run in the bottom of the third thanks to a scoring error by URI third baseman Brian Connolly, allowing Peyton Steele to reach base safely and John Lemm to score from second — pushing Alabama's lead to 3-0.

Upchurch continued to be electric in the top of the fourth and fifth, picking up a pair of strike outs in both frames. Bringing his total to seven on the night.

Jason Torres got the scoring started in the bottom of the fifth, which saw the Crimson Tide eventually double their lead to 6-0.

Torres blistered a solo shot off the batter's eye to lead off the inning, giving Alabama a 4-0 advantage.

After Luke Vaughn singled and Osterhouse got plunked, Rob Vaughn dialed up a hit-and-run, and Peyton Steele capitalized. Driving in Vaughn with a single to center field to extend the Tide lead to 5-0. An error by the Rhode Island center fielder Ryan Henschel allowed Osterhouse to cross the plate, bringing the Alabama advantage to 6-0.

The Crimson Tide threatened to add more in the frame but stranded a pair of runners in scoring position.

Austin Morris relieved Upchurch in the top of the sixth, facing the minimum in his first inning of work.

The Crimson Tide also went down in order in the bottom of the frame.

The Rams pulled one back in the top of the seventh thanks to a Ryan Thompson RBI groundout, but couldn't add more as Morris forced an Aidan Botti flyout to end the frame.

The Alabama lineup went three up, three down once again in the bottom of the seventh.

Matthew Heiberger entered in the top of the eight for Morris, forcing three groundouts to retire the side.

The Crimson Tide offense posted their biggest inning of work Saturday night in the bottom of the eighth.

Alabama got started with a Brady Neal single to right to bring home Brennan Holt, pushing Bryce Fowler to third. Neal promptly stole second and Torres worked a walk, juicing the bases for the Crimson Tide. After a WIll Plattner strikeout, Vaughn worked a walk to bring home Fowler as Alabama took a 8-1 lead, just three runs shy of a run rule.

The following at-bat, Osterhouse got plunked to bring in Neal to score as Alabama took a 9-1 lead.

With a chance to end the game, Steele did just that the following at bat. The sophomore lifted a single into center to bring home Vaughn and Torres for his second clutch hit of the week, sending Rhode Island back up to The Ocean State an inning early.

Alabama returns to action Tuesday for a top-25 matchup at Southern Miss in Hattiesburg, Miss.

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