HUNTSVILLE, Ala. (Interstat) — The Alabama Crimson Tide used a three-run fifth inning to erase an early deficit and pull away for a 6-2 victory over the Austin Peay Governors in nonconference baseball action Tuesday night at Spragins Hall.

The game’s pivotal shift came in the bottom of the fifth inning, breaking a 2-2 deadlock and handing control to the Crimson Tide for good. Alabama’s Holt doubled to drive in Vaughn, who had led off the inning with a double of his own. Holt later scored, along with Lebron who was intentionally walked, on a two-run double down the right field line by third baseman Jason Torres. That hit gave Torres three RBIs for the game and pushed the Alabama lead to 5-2.

Alabama’s bullpen secured the win with dominant relief work, combining for 6 1/3 scoreless innings and allowing just one hit. Connor Lehman, Owen Sarna, Austin Morris and Evan Steckmesser shut down the Governors after starter JT Blackwood surrendered two runs on four hits over 2 2/3 innings. Morris struck out two in a perfect sixth inning.

Austin Peay struck first, scoring two runs in the opening frame. Paris Pridgen led off the game with a double down the right field line, stole third base and scored on a groundout. R. Velazquez added a solo home run to left field in the third inning to tie the game at 2-2. Pridgen finished 2-for-3 for the Governors, who managed six hits total.

The Governors’ early pitching, however, could not sustain the lead. Starter Chance Cox took the loss, working five innings and allowing five runs, three earned, on seven hits. He walked four and struck out four. The Alabama fifth inning proved his undoing. Reliever Jackson Hohensee provided two perfect innings of relief with three strikeouts for Austin Peay.

Alabama added an insurance run in the eighth inning when Fowler delivered an RBI single to score Kroberger, who had pinch-run after a single by pinch-hitter Lemm.

With the win, Alabama improved to 19-7 overall. The Crimson Tide, coming off a series win over Florida, will open a three-game home series against Auburn on Friday. Austin Peay fell to 12-13 and will begin a three-game series at Central Arkansas on Friday.