HOOVER, Ala. – Alabama didn’t overwhelm Missouri with offense, collecting just eight hits on the day, but used timely execution and a bullpen that stranded 12 Tigers runners to grind out a 4-1 win in the SEC Tournament opener. With the clouds gazing in the backdrop of the blue sky on a 79-degree day in the first game of the 2025 Southeastern Conference Tournament at Hoover MET Stadium, the No. 9 seed Alabama Crimson Tide won 4-1 over No. 16 seed the Missouri Tigers.
Alabama entered the game as strong favorites, with ESPN Bet listing them at -1000 odds and some projections expecting as many as 14 runs. But they had to weather a determined effort from Missouri, who left the bases loaded in the seventh and stranded two more in the ninth. The game lasted two hours and 34 minutes.
Alabama opened up the week of May 19 ranked at No. 23 in the country by D1Baseball.com, with an overall record of 41-15 and an SEC record of 17-14 under head coach Rob Vaughn.
Missouri, with head coach Kerrick Jackson, will not make the NCAA Tournament due to having an RPI of 141 and dropping their overall record to 16-40 and their conference record to 3-28.
Alabama starter Tyler Fay dazzled across six innings, allowing five hits, one earned run, one walk, and six strikeouts while dialing up 75 pitches for 50 strikes and advancing his record to 1-2.
Crimson Tide relievers Matthew Heiberger, Braylon Myers, and Carson Ozmer combined for three innings, allowing four hits, no walks, and four strikeouts during their first win of the SEC Tournament.
The first run of the game did not come until the top of the fourth inning, when Missouri catcher Mateo Serna cranked a solo home run—his ninth of the year—that just stayed fair down the right field line and put Missouri up 1-0.
Alabama responded in the bottom of the fourth inning, when Justin Lebron drove an RBI single into left field, scoring Brennen Norton to tie the game at 1-1.
He's already having a day!@thejustinlebron I #RollTide pic.twitter.com/uywF1AeMMK
— Alabama Baseball (@AlabamaBSB) May 20, 2025
The next batter, left fielder Kade Snell, helped the Crimson Tide take the lead with an RBI ground ball single into left field, scoring left fielder Bryce Fowler to make it 2-1.
Get em over. Knock em in.
Bama takes the lead!@AlabamaBSB x #SECTourney / @SECNetwork pic.twitter.com/5q5bsXqeUk
— Southeastern Conference (@SEC) May 20, 2025
In the bottom of the seventh inning, Alabama extended the lead to two runs, when first baseman Will Hodo lifted a sacrifice fly to left field, scoring Snell to push the score to 3-1.
During the bottom of the eighth inning, catcher Brady Neal jolted a solo home run over the center field wall—his third of the season—that gave the Crimson Tide insurance and extended the lead to 4-1.
BLASTED.@bradyneal16 I #RollTide pic.twitter.com/6MiEZsqP4N
— Alabama Baseball (@AlabamaBSB) May 20, 2025
Ozmer entered in the ninth and got Serna to fly out to Fowler for the final out.
The Tigers’ offense left 12 runners on base, including nine over the final four innings.
“Today’s game just kind of showed who we were all year,” said Missouri head coach Kerrick Jackson. “We had opportunities to put ourselves in a position to win a ballgame, and we just weren’t able to come up with the right hit or make the right play at the right time.”
Jackson emphasized the program’s youth, noting that the Tigers are still developing.
“We’re an immature baseball club—and I don’t mean that disrespectfully,” Jackson said. “It’s just the reality. That’s what happens with growth.”
Serna and outfielder Kaden Peer each had strong days at the plate. Peer finished 3-for-4 with a stolen base. Serna reached base three times and drove in Missouri’s only run.
Jackson praised Serna’s leadership behind the plate and highlighted veteran infielder Jackson Lovich for his presence throughout the season.
“This guy sitting here next to me is our most experienced position player on the field,” Jackson said of Lovich. “He was a steady presence. He just went out every day and did the right things on a daily basis. I wish more of our guys had been paying attention to the journey he took.”
Lovich, reflecting on the loss and the season, said, “It starts with faith, and then just having a strong foundation. When the times are tough, you lean on your people and just stay consistent.”
Missouri’s pitching staff, with starter Sam Horn and reliever Wil Libbert, combined for eight innings, allowing four earned runs, seven walks, and four strikeouts. Libbert took the loss, falling to 3-4 on the year.
Jackson said Horn’s effort was encouraging, noting his potential as a two-sport athlete.
“The stuff was firm,” Jackson said. “What you saw was what the potential could be with him. Whenever he settles into what lane he’s going to go in, I think he’s going to be phenomenal.”
Alabama will play the No. 8 ranked Tennessee Volunteers on Wednesday, May 21, at 10:30 a.m. EDT on SEC Network.
2025 SEC Baseball Tournament Schedule
Tuesday-Sunday, May 20-25. Hoover Metropolitan Stadium, Hoover, Ala.
All Game Start Times Are Eastern Daylight Time
*Second Game Of Each Session Will Begin Approximately 30 Minutes After The Conclusion Of First Game
Tuesday, May 20 – First Round
Game 1: No. 9 Alabama 4, No. 16 Missouri 1
*Game 2: No. 12 Oklahoma 5, No. 13 Kentucky 1
Game 3: No. 10 Florida 11 vs. No. 15 South Carolina 3 – 5:30 p.m. – SECN
*Game 4: No. 11 Mississippi State vs. No. 14 Texas A&M – Moved to May 21
Wednesday, May 21 – Second Round
Game 4: No. 11 Mississippi State vs. No. 14 Texas A&M – 9:30 a.m. – SECN
*Game 5: No. 9 Alabama vs. No. 8 Tennessee – 12:30 p.m. – SECN
Game 6: No. 12 Oklahoma vs. No. 5 Georgia – 4:30 p.m. – SECN
*Game 7: Winner Game 3 vs. No. 7 Ole Miss – 7:30 p.m. – SECN
Thursday, May 22 – Quarterfinals
Game 8: Winner Game 4 vs. No. 6 Auburn – 11 a.m. – SECN
*Game 9: Winner Game 5 vs. No. 1 Texas – 3 p.m. – SECN
Game 10: Winner Game 6 vs. No. 4 Vanderbilt – 7 p.m. – SECN
Friday, May 23 – Quarterfinals
Game 11: Winner Game 7 vs. No. 2 Arkansas – 4 p.m. – SECN
*Game 12: Winner Game 8 vs. No. 3 LSU – 7 p.m. – SECN
Saturday, May 24 – Semifinals
Game 13: Winner Game 9 vs. Winner Game 10 – 1 p.m. – SECN
*Game 14: Winner Game 11 vs. Winner Game 12 – 4 p.m. – SECN
Sunday, May 25 – Championship Game
Game 15: Winner Game 13 vs. Winner Game 14 – 3 p.m. – ESPN2
SEC MLBPipeline.com Top 150 Draft Prospects
No. 7 – OF – Jace LaViolette – Texas A&M
No. 8 – RHP – Kyson Witherspoon – Oklahoma
No. 9 – LHP – Kade Anderson – Louisiana State
No. 10 – LHP – Liam Doyle – Tennessee
No. 16 – 2B – Gavin Kilen – Tennessee
No. 20 – OF/C – Ike Irish – Auburn
No. 24 – SS – Wehiwa Aloy – Arkansas
No. 28 – OF – Max Belyeu – Texas
No. 33 – RHP – Riley Quick – Alabama
No. 35 – 1B/3B – Andrew Fischer – Tennessee
No. 36 – OF/3B – Ethan Petry – South Carolina
No. 44 – LHP – Zach Root – Arkansas
No. 54 – SS/3B – Dean Curley – Tennessee
No. 55 – RHP – A.J. Russell – Tennessee
No. 60 – OF – Charles Davalan – Arkansas
No. 66 – 2B – Daniel Dickinson – Louisiana State
No. 69 – RHP – Marcus Phillips – Tennessee
No. 72 – LHP – J.D. Thompson – Vanderbilt
No. 78 – RHP – Chase Shores – Louisiana State
No. 79 – LHP- Jared Spencer – Texas
No. 90 – 1B – Jared Jones – Louisiana State
No. 99 – LHP – Justin Lamkin – Texas A&M
No. 100 – OF – RJ Austin – Vanderbilt
No. 101 – C – Easton Carmichael – Oklahoma
No. 102 – LHP – Pico Kohn – Mississippi State
No. 113 – RHP – Nate Snead – Tennessee
No. 116 – RHP – Mason Morris – Mississippi
No. 117 – SS – Jalin Morris – Texas
No. 123 – OF/1B – Tre Phelps – Georgia
No. 131 – SS – Colby Shelton – Florida
No. 133 – RHP – Malachi Witherspoon – Oklahoma
No. 141 – 3B – Brent Iredale – Arkansas
