TUSCALOOSA, Ala. – After trailing by five runs exiting the opening frame, No. 18 Alabama baseball scored the game’s final seven runs, as Coleman Mizell’s game-winning two-run home run in the eighth sealed the Crimson Tide’s 7-5 win over Missouri at Sewell-Thomas Stadium on Thursday. The win improves Alabama to 33-10 overall and 10-9 in Southeastern Conference play.

Mizell closed the evening 2-for-4, as his two-run homer accounted for both of his RBI. Garrett Staton also managed a multi-hit effort, going 2-for-4 with a game-tying three-run home run in the sixth. Will Hodo drove in two runs as the result of a two-run homer, wrapping up his night with a 1-for-3 line, including a walk. Eight of the nine men in Alabama’s starting lineup produced at least one hit.

Tyler Fay made his third start of the spring on Thursday, and after surrendering five runs (two earned) in the first, the redshirt sophomore settled into the ballgame. Fay proceeded to throw 4.1 scoreless innings after the initial frame while allowing just one hit the second and sixth innings. Matthew Heiberger allowed just one baserunner in his 1.2 scoreless frames, adding two strikeouts. Carson Ozmer entered in the eighth after inheriting a pair of baserunners, though the Tide closer didn’t flinch. After an intentional walk loaded the bases, Ozmer managed a fielder’s choice and a strikeout to end the inning before striking out the side in the final frame to cement the victory.  

From Head Coach Rob Vaughn

“Heck of a comeback win. I thought it was a really weird first inning. You see something new in baseball every time you go out there and tonight they hit around the order in the first on 16 pitches. I had a former boss tell me ‘when you get an out on the bunt, you might give up one run, but when you don’t get the out, it’s going to be a crooked number,’ and that’s what happened there in first. Tyler Fay was just a tick slow in getting off the mound and then they just paper cut us to death, but Tyler (Fay) did a great job of settling in and pitching into the sixth inning. Matthew Heiberger was great and then in the eighth inning, we did exactly what we didn’t do well in the first, which was execute. We got an out on the bunt, Will Hodo made a great play to cut down a run and then Carson Ozmer got a big punch out. Really proud of our guys, proud of the fight and I’m really happy for Coleman Mizell.”

How It Happened

• T1 I The Tigers opened the inning with an infield single and a hit-by-pitch, while a throwing error following a sacrifice bunt allowed a run to score. After the bunt, a sacrifice fly pushed in a second run. Consecutive singles plated a third run, while a two-out single through the right side drove in two additional runs. (5-0, Missouri)
• B2 I Brady Neal worked a one-out walk and two batters later, Will Hodo lined a two-run home run to right. (5-2, Missouri)
• B6 I Neal and Jason Torres both singled with one out before a groundout pushed both men into scoring position. With two outs, Garrett Staton lifted a three-run home run to right-center to level the score. (5-5)
• B8 I Torres and Hodo both drew walks to lead off the frame, though a double play erased Hodo off the basepaths and advanced Torres to third. In a full count with two outs, Coleman Mizell launched a go-ahead two-run home to give the Tide its first lead of the night. (7-5, Alabama)

Postgame Notes

• The win stands as Crimson Tide’s eighth-consecutive win over Missouri, a streak that began in 2018
• Alabama has now matched its win total from the 2024 season when the Tide finished 33-24
• Thursday marks the 10^th game this season Alabama has produced at least three home runs in a single game
• Tyler Fay’s 5.1 innings pitched on Thursday stands as a career-high, surpassing his previous best of 3.2 innings against UAB on February 27 of last season
• Coleman Mizell’s two-run homer in the eighth was his first longball since March 21 against Tennessee
• Brady Neal stretched his hitting streak to eight-consecutive games, batting 8-for-25 (.320) with one home run, two RBI, three walks and one hit-by-pitch in that span
• Neal has also now reached base in 14 consecutive games
• Kade Snell managed a hit for the fifth-consecutive contest, going 8-for-21 (.381) with one double, two home runs, seven RBI and four walks in that stretch
• Will Hodo and Garrett Staton both connected on home runs on Thursday, marking the second straight game both men have homered
• ATTENDANCE: 3,534

­­Up Next

• Alabama and Missouri will resume the series on Friday, April 25 at Sewell-Thomas Stadium
• First pitch between the Crimson Tide and Tigers is set for 6 p.m. CT, airing on SEC Network+