Tide Sweep In-State Foe Ahead of Arkansas Series

Tuesday's victory marks Rob Vaughn's 100th win at the University of Alabama

Apr. 8, 2026 at 2:39am

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A cubist, geometric painting depicting the dynamic action of a college baseball game, with players and the field fragmented into overlapping planes of color and shape.Alabama's decisive victory over Samford showcases the program's depth and momentum heading into a pivotal SEC series against Arkansas.Tuscaloosa Today

The No. 8 Alabama Crimson Tide (26-8) defeated in-state opponent Samford (14-17) 16-2 to complete the season sweep of the Bulldogs. The win marks head coach Rob Vaughn's 100th victory at the University of Alabama.

Why it matters

The Tide's dominant performance over Samford comes ahead of a crucial weekend series against No. 22 Arkansas, a key SEC matchup that could impact Alabama's postseason positioning.

The details

Alabama starting pitcher JT Blackwood earned the win, allowing six hits and two earned runs over 4.2 innings. The Tide offense exploded for 16 runs, including home runs from Luke Vaughn and Chase Kroberger. Alabama doubled its run total in the fifth and sixth innings to pull away.

  • The victory marks Rob Vaughn's 100th win at the University of Alabama.

The players

Rob Vaughn

The head coach of the University of Alabama baseball team, who earned his 100th win with the program in Tuesday's victory.

JT Blackwood

The Alabama starting pitcher who earned the win, allowing six hits and two earned runs over 4.2 innings.

Luke Vaughn

The Alabama player who hit a three-run home run in the third inning to extend the Tide's lead.

Chase Kroberger

The Alabama player who hit a solo home run, the first of his career, in the third inning.

Eric Hines

The Alabama player who hit a two-run home run in the sixth inning to help the Tide pull away.

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What’s next

The Crimson Tide welcomes No. 22 Arkansas to Tuscaloosa on Friday for the first matchup between the two squads since Alabama took down the Hogs in 2024.

The takeaway

Alabama's dominant performance over in-state foe Samford, capped by Rob Vaughn's 100th win with the program, sets the Tide up well for a crucial SEC series against Arkansas as they look to solidify their postseason positioning.