Alabama going to the College World Series for first time since 1999 after sweeping St. John’s

The University of Alabama’s baseball team will be heading to the College World Series in Omaha, Nebraska, for the first time since 1999 – Photo from the University of Alabama

TUSCALOOSA, Ala. (WAKA) – No. 7 national seed Alabama baseball (42-19) is returning to the Men’s College World Series for the first time since 1999, as the Crimson Tide topped St. John’s (36-26) in game two of the NCAA Tuscaloosa Super Regional on Monday afternoon at Sewell-Thomas Stadium to claim the best-of-three series.

The game originally began Sunday afternoon, but had to be suspended in the top of the 8th inning prior to its resumption this morning.

Leading up to the suspension of the contest, Alabama had built a tidal wave of momentum, thanks to Jason Torres, who slugged a grand slam in the 7th to extend a one-run lead into a five-run advantage. Torres eventually finished 2-for-4 with a double, a home run and four RBI. Bryce Fowler was 2-for-5 with a double, while Peyton Steele also collected a pair of hits to go with one RBI. As well, Luke Vaughn added a double and a run-scoring sacrifice bunt to close his 1-for-3 effort.

With a trip to Omaha at stake, Zane Adams (8-4) gave the Tide exactly what it needed, holding the Red Storm to just two earned runs over 6.1 innings, allowing just six hits to go with eight strikeouts. Matthew Heiberger created an inning-ending double play after just three pitches following his entrance in the 7th and was again tasked with taking the mound after play was resumed.

Heiberger proceeded to retire seven of the nine batters he faced, scattering a base-hit and a hit batter while producing two strikeouts, as the Birmingham native induced the final out to send the Tide to the Men’s College World Series.

“What a day, what a year, what a season, man,” head coach Rob Vaughn said. “Twenty-seven years in the making, I couldn’t think of a better group to be able to kick that door down. I don’t even have words. I don’t have words. This group’s been through a lot this year, and they met the moment the last few weeks. When the moment got big, they showed up. No better example than this guy right here (Jason Torres). What an unbelievable swing in the best spot. I looked at Mike Morrison right before the homer yesterday, and I said, of everybody on this team, this dude deserves this right here. He deserves that moment, and he met it, and it was awesome. We lost some momentum last night with a five-hour delay, and they show up today and didn’t miss a beat. So excited for us, excited for our team, excited for this university, and just really grateful that we get to be a part of it.”

The Tide’s berth in the Men’s College World Series stands as the program’s sixth-ever appearance, with Alabama owning an 11-10 (.524) mark all-time in 21 CWS contests.

Alabama will open the 2026 Men’s College World Series in Omaha, Nebraska, with a matchup against conference foe Oklahoma on Saturday, June 13. First pitch between the Crimson Tide and  the Sooners is scheduled for 2PM CDT, airing on ESPN.

— Information from the University of Alabama Athletics