TUSCALOOSA — Alabama baseball defeated Alabama State 21-3 in the Tuscaloosa NCAA Regional on May 29, 2026. The Crimson Tide scored 21 runs on 20 hits in the lopsided victory at Sewell-Thomas Stadium.

Alabama was leading 18-3 when catcher Johnny Lemm led off the seventh inning. He was hit by a pitch from Alabama State reliever Jacob Loeffl that grazed his finger. Lemm remained in the game, later scored a run, and was subsequently removed.

Alabama head coach Rob Vaughn said Johnny Lemm returned to the dugout in 'good spirits' after the injury. "Obviously, he took the foul ball right off the finger, you know, so any time you do that, you're kind of holding your breath, and it's tough, man." He added, "But in a 21-3 game, you hate a foul ball coming off a hand like that."

Vaughn commented on the absence of a run rule in NCAA Tournament play, noting that most regular-season college baseball games use one. "Like, the run rule is something most all teams play all year long, then we get to the postseason and don't play." He acknowledged benefits to the rule’s absence, such as providing younger players with valuable innings and postseason experience.

Lemm, an Australian member of the Alabama roster, played through the injury before being substituted. Alabama was scheduled to face USC Upstate on Saturday, May 30, 2026, in its next regional game. The Crimson Tide’s 21 runs marked their highest offensive output in an NCAA Tournament game since 2021. Alabama State finishes its season with a 32-26 record.