Live Blog: No. 18 Alabama Baseball at No. 15 Vanderbilt (Game 2)

The Alabama baseball team's Saturday afternoon game against Vanderbilt at Hawkins Field is a must-win for the visitors to even an important SEC series at one win apiece.

No. 15 Vanderbilt (33-13, 13-9 SEC) won game one on Friday night by a 12-2 score, forcing the run rule into effect after eight innings. The No. 18 Crimson Tide's only two runs of the contest were in the top of the eighth inning.

The first five innings of Friday's game were scoreless, before the Commodores scored in droves in the late frame to put the game away. Vanderbilt scored three runs in the sixth inning, a further three in the seventh and six runs in the eighth, ending things early.

The contest will start at 3:30 p.m. CT on SEC Network+. Friday's opening game of the series was delayed by an hour and a half due to unfavorable weather conditions; it commenced at 7:30 p.m. after initially being set for a 6 p.m. first pitch.

Be sure to refresh your browser for live updates from game two of Alabama at Vanderbilt. The most recent updates will appear at the top.

Ninth Inning:

Ozmer strikes out the side in the ninth, tying the single-season program saves record. Big win. FINAL: Alabama 5, Vanderbilt 2.

Alabama leaves one runner on second in a scoreless ninth. RJ Austin made a nice grab to end the frame. Last call coming for Vanderbilt.

Eighth Inning:

Ozmer sits the Commodores down in order, sending the game to the ninth inning. Alabama leads 5-2.

Carson Ozmer is the new pitcher for the Crimson Tide.

Mizell strikes out looking on a payoff pitch for the third out. Halfway through the eighth inning at Hawkins Field.

Garrett Staton scores from third on a wild pitch. Alabama 5, Vanderbilt 2.

Ethan McElvain will be the new Vanderbilt pitcher. He inherits a runner on third with two away.

Seventh Inning:

Myers works back-to-back strikeouts to end the seventh inning. Alabama 4, Vanderbilt 2 through seven.

Braylon Myers is on to pitch for Alabama. Quick's day finishes with six innings, two runs and an inherited runner on first for Myers.

After a leadoff walk, Mac Rose singles and brings in Braden Holcomb from second (he reached scoring position on a wild pitch). Alabama 4, Vanderbilt 2.

Riley Quick is still on the mound for Alabama coming out of stretch time.

Alabama goes down 1, 2, 3 in the seventh inning. Remains to be seen how long Riley Quick is going to be allowed to go, and if he comes back out for the seventh.

Sixth Inning:

Riley Quick gets through six innings for the first time in his college career with a scoreless sixth and nine strikeouts on the day.

Justin Lebron lines out, leaving Mizell on third base. Mizell has two extra-base hits in his last two at-bats. On to the bottom of the sixth with Alabama up 4-1.

Alex Kranzler is now on the mound for Vanderbilt.

Fifth Inning:

A two-out single from Jonathan Vastine is all for the Commodores in the home half of the fifth. Alabama 4, Vanderbilt 1.

Brady Neal flies out to end a three-run fifth for the visitors.

Garrett Staton connects on a two-out double to bring in another run. This is the inning Alabama needed. Alabama 4, Vanderbilt 1. Two out and runners on second and third.

A Bonomolo single scores Lebron, who'd walked then advanced to third on a Kade Snell single. Alabama 3, Vanderbilt 1.

Levi Huesman is the new pitcher for Vanderbilt.

Coleman Mizell breaks the tie with an opposite-field solo home run on a payoff pitch. Alabama 2, Vanderbilt 1.

Fourth Inning:

Riley Quick gets two more strikeouts in a 1, 2, 3 fourth.

The Crimson Tide goes down in order on three strikeouts in the visiting half of the fourth.

Third Inning:

Quick retires the Commodores in order in the third.

A Will Hodo flyout brings an end to the top of the third.

Alabama ties the game on a Richie Bonomolo fielder's choice RBI after Justin Lebron had stolen third. Alabama 1, Vanderbilt 1. Bonomolo was too fast for an inning-ending double play.

Second Inning:

Quick strikes out the side in the bottom of the second, keeping the score at 1-0 Vanderbilt.

The Crimson Tide gets two men on in the second but also strikes out three times in the frame, unable to tie the game as of yet.

First Inning:

Quick gets out of the inning without further damage and leaves a man stranded on first. A nice catch by Bryce Fowler to end the inning.

The Commodores get the first run of the game with a Riley Quick balk while RJ Austin is on third base. Vanderbilt 1, Alabama 0.

Alabama cannot capitalize on a two-out double from Kade Snell in a scoreless first. Snell has continued to produce from that No. 3 spot.

Pregame:

First pitch now scheduled for 3:30 CT, again due to weather.

Alabama's lineup:
1. Bryce Fowler, right field
2. Justin Lebron, shortstop
3. Kade Snell, left field
4. Richie Bonomolo Jr., center field
5. Will Hodo, first base
6. Garrett Staton, second base
7. Brady Neal, catcher
8. Jason Torres, third base
9. Coleman Mizell, designated hitter
P: Riley Quick (RHP)

Vanderbilt's lineup:
1. Rustan Rigdon, left field
2. RJ Austin, center field
3. Riley Nelson, first base
4. Brodie Johnston, third base
5. Braden Holcomb, right field
6. Mac Rose, designated hitter
7. Colin Barczi, catcher
8. Johathan Vastine, shortstop
9. Mike Mancini, second base
P: Cody Bowker, RHP

First pitch has been pushed back to 3 p.m. CT from its originally scheduled 2 p.m. start. Once again, weather rears its ugly head here in early May.

Friday's game was Alabama's first loss since bringing back the camo hats that were an iconic part of its 2023 season. The Crimson Tide has worn the hats in each of its last four games.