TUSCALOOSA, Ala. (Interstat) — John Lemm’s solo home run in the bottom of the ninth inning lifted Alabama past Vanderbilt 5-4 on Thursday afternoon at Sewell-Thomas Stadium, giving the Crimson Tide a walk-off victory in the opener of a three-game Southeastern Conference series.

Lemm, the designated hitter, finished 2-for-4 with the homer and one RBI. His ninth-inning blast off Vanderbilt reliever Tyler Baird cleared the center-field fence and capped a comeback that erased a four-run Commodores lead.

Alabama improved to 30-16 overall and 11-12 in SEC play. Vanderbilt dropped to 27-20 and 10-13.

Vanderbilt struck first in the top of the third inning. Center fielder Rustan Rigdon singled to center field and first baseman Tommy Goodin followed with a two-run home run to right field, scoring Rigdon. The Commodores added a run in the fourth when Braden Barczi homered to right-center. Rigdon hit his own solo shot in the sixth inning to push the lead to 4-0.

Commodores starter Connor Fennell was dominant through five innings, holding Alabama hitless while striking out seven. He exited after 5 1/3 innings, charged with two earned runs on no hits and two walks, with seven strikeouts.

Alabama finally broke through in the bottom of the third. Walks Vaughn tripled to right-center and scored on a groundout by Kade Steele. The Crimson Tide trailed 4-1.

The decisive inning came in the sixth. With Fennell still on the mound, Alabama’s Kade Neal singled to right-center. Vanderbilt turned to reliever Jace Schulz, who allowed a passed ball that moved Neal to second and then walked Carson Fowler. Luke Guth replaced Schulz and surrendered a three-run home run to left fielder Eric Hines, who drove in Fowler and Neal to tie the game at 4-4.

Hines finished 1-for-4 with the homer and three RBIs. Lemm’s double in the fifth inning had given Alabama a threat, but he was thrown out at third base. The Crimson Tide stranded runners in the fifth and seventh innings before Lemm’s heroics.

Vanderbilt managed nine hits, including two each from Rigdon and shortstop Ryker Waite. Goodin had the two-run homer. Alabama had seven hits, with Lemm collecting two and Neal adding one.

Alabama starter Tyler Fay worked 6 1/3 innings, allowing four earned runs on eight hits while striking out seven. Matthew Heiberger followed with 2 2/3 scoreless innings of relief, surrendering one hit and striking out none. Heiberger earned the win. Vanderbilt’s Baird took the loss after allowing the walk-off homer in his only inning of work.

The game featured a strong relief performance from Vanderbilt’s Luke Guth, who struck out three in 1 2/3 innings but allowed the Hines homer. Baird struck out two in his lone inning.

Defensively, both teams turned double plays. Vanderbilt shortstop Ryker Waite was involved in two, including a groundout to second base and a lineout. Alabama’s double play came in the top of the eighth when shortstop Kade Neal turned a grounder into a 6-3 putout.

Vanderbilt had opportunities to add insurance in the late innings. In the top of the seventh, Waite was hit by a pitch and stole second, but the Commodores could not bring him home. In the ninth, with two outs, pinch hitter Luke Reynolds singled to shortstop, but Waite grounded out to end the inning.

Alabama’s victory snapped a two-game losing streak. The Crimson Tide had been swept in a three-game series at Tennessee earlier in the week but rebounded at home.

Vanderbilt had won its previous game against Middle Tennessee 9-1 on Tuesday. The Commodores have now lost two straight in SEC play after dropping a 10-inning game at Texas on Sunday.

The teams meet again Friday at Sewell-Thomas Stadium, with first pitch scheduled for the evening.

Interstat’s game simulator had projected a final score of Vanderbilt 6, Alabama 3. Interstat’s ELO system had projected Vanderbilt with a 53.00 percent probability to win.