SPARTANBURG, S.C. (Interstat) — Alabama’s seven-run first-inning outburst proved decisive as the Crimson Tide held off a late rally by South Carolina Upstate for a 7-5 victory Saturday, May 30, 2026.

Alabama improved to 39-19 while the Spartans fell to 34-29.

The game began after a 1-hour, 13-minute weather delay. Alabama wasted little time taking control. In the top of the first, Fowler flied out, Lebron grounded out and Neal singled through the right side. Torres walked, advancing Neal to second, but Lemm struck out swinging to end the inning with the score still 0-0. South Carolina Upstate went quietly in the bottom of the first, with Zenor grounding out to second, Heaghney walking, Lang singling, Sweeney striking out and Bentley grounding into a fielder’s choice.

The scoreless tie broke open in the top of the third. After Fowler grounded out, Lebron singled to center and stole second. Neal struck out, but Torres doubled to left field, scoring Lebron. Lemm was hit by a pitch, and then Hines homered down the right-field line, driving in Lemm, Torres and himself for a 4-0 lead. Holt flied out to end the inning.

South Carolina Upstate answered in the bottom of the third. Griggs grounded out, then Zenor doubled to left center. Heaghney reached on an error by the third baseman, allowing Zenor to advance to third. Lang flied out to center for a sacrifice fly, scoring Zenor unearned. Heaghney advanced to second on a throwing error by the center fielder and took third on the same play. Sweeney struck out to leave the score 4-1.

Alabama added a run in the top of the fourth. Vaughn flied out, Steele fouled out, then Fowler tripled to left center. Lebron singled to left, scoring Fowler, and stole second. Neal struck out, ending the inning with Alabama leading 5-1.

The Spartans cut the lead in the bottom of the fourth. Bentley singled to right and advanced to second on a throwing error by the pitcher on a failed pickoff attempt. Armsey singled to right center, moving Bentley to third. Lucas flied out to left for a sacrifice fly, scoring Bentley unearned. Waters singled to left, putting Armsey at second, but Griggs grounded into a double play, ending the inning at 5-2.

In the top of the fifth, Alabama extended its lead. Torres walked, Lemm singled, Hines struck out looking, and Holt was hit by a pitch to load the bases. Vaughn lined out, but Steele walked, forcing in Torres for a 6-2 advantage. Fowler grounded out to end the inning.

South Carolina Upstate threatened in the bottom of the fifth but could not score. Zenor fouled out, Heaghney lined out, Lang walked, Sweeney walked, and Bentley reached on a fielder’s choice to end the inning.

Alabama made it 7-2 in the top of the sixth when Lebron homered to left field. Neal was hit by a pitch, Torres popped up, Lemm struck out and Hines popped up.

The Spartans mounted a comeback in the bottom of the seventh. After a scoreless sixth, Zenor reached on an error by the second baseman. Heaghney walked, Lang grounded into a double play that allowed Zenor to advance to third, and then Sweeney homered to right field, scoring Zenor and himself to make it 7-4. Bentley flied out to end the inning.

Neither team scored in the eighth. In the top of the ninth, Alabama went down in order. In the bottom of the ninth, Zenor grounded out, Heaghney singled to center, Lang grounded out to shortstop, advancing Heaghney to second, and Sweeney reached on a throwing error by the third baseman, putting Heaghney at third. Bentley doubled down the left-field line, scoring Heaghney and moving Sweeney to third. The call at second was confirmed after an Alabama challenge. After a mound visit, Armsey flied out to center, ending the game with a 7-5 final.

Key performers for South Carolina Upstate included second baseman Alex Ritzer, center fielder Trey Bentley, third baseman Jake Armsey, left fielder Preston Lucas, first baseman Wylie Waters, second baseman Gage Griggs, pinch hitter Brady Small, pitcher Reece Hemmerling, pitcher Wyatt Land and pitcher Chris Torres. No individual statistics were available for those players.

Interstat’s game simulator had projected a final score of South Carolina Upstate 7, Alabama 6. Interstat’s ELO system gave Alabama a 69.10 percent probability to win. Alabama was installed as a pregame favorite with a spread of plus-2.5.