TUSCALOOSA, Ala. (Interstat) — Brennan Holt homered in the eighth inning to lift Alabama to an 8-5 victory over Vanderbilt on Saturday afternoon at Sewell-Thomas Stadium, completing a three-game Southeastern Conference sweep.

The Crimson Tide improved to 32-16 overall and 14-10 in the SEC. The Commodores fell to 27-22 and 9-15.

Alabama jumped out quickly in the first inning. After two singles, Bryce Fowler doubled to left center to drive in the game’s first run. A fielder’s choice by Will Hines plated another run, and Jason Torres followed with a three-run homer to left field, giving the Crimson Tide a 5-0 lead.

Vanderbilt answered in the top of the second. Braden Holcomb singled, stole second, and after a hit by pitch to Charles Rigdon, Colin Barczi launched a three-run homer to right center to tie the game at 5-5.

The Commodores took their only lead in the third inning. Chris Mancini walked, stole second and scored on Holcomb’s single up the middle, making it 6-5 Vanderbilt. But the lead was short-lived.

Alabama regained control in the fourth. Torres walked, and after a walk to Cole Purdy, Holt doubled to right center to bring in Torres. Kade Lebron followed with a groundout to shortstop that scored Purdy, putting the Crimson Tide ahead 7-5.

Vanderbilt trimmed the lead in the seventh. Kevin Reynolds doubled to left center, advanced to third on a passed ball and scored on a sacrifice fly by Jack Waite, making it 7-6. The run was unearned.

The game remained tight until the bottom of the eighth. With one out, Holt stepped to the plate and hit a solo home run to right field, extending Alabama’s lead to 8-6. The Crimson Tide bullpen did the rest.

Matthew Heiberger earned the win with 2 2/3 scoreless innings of relief, allowing three hits and striking out two. Hagan Banks pitched the ninth, allowing one hit and striking out one for his first save. Myles Upchurch started for Alabama and went 5 1/3 innings, allowing four runs on four hits with three strikeouts.

For Vanderbilt, reliever Tyler Baird was effective in the middle innings. He threw three innings, giving up no hits, no runs and striking out four. Starter Luke Guth allowed one run on two hits over two innings. Vanderbilt starter Nadeau was lifted after 3 2/3 innings.

Holcomb led the Commodores with three hits in four at-bats and drove in one run. Barczi had one hit, the three-run homer, and three RBIs. Reynolds added two hits.

For Alabama, Holt finished 2-for-4 with two RBIs and the solo homer. Torres was 1-for-3 with a home run and three RBIs. Fowler had one hit and one RBI.

The series sweep marked the second straight year Alabama has taken all three games from Vanderbilt at home. The Crimson Tide had won the first two games, 5-0 on Friday and 5-4 on Thursday, to clinch the series before Saturday’s finale.

Alabama travels to Troy on Tuesday before a weekend series at South Carolina. Vanderbilt returns home to host Louisville on Tuesday, then visits Missouri next weekend.

Interstat’s game simulator projected a final score of Vanderbilt 6, Alabama 4, and its ELO system gave the Commodores a 51.30 percent probability to win.