LEAD STORY
Alabama, Texas One Win Away from Omaha After Dominant Super Regional Openers
The road to the Men’s College World Series runs through Tuscaloosa and Austin, and both SEC hosts made emphatic statements Saturday night.
No. 7 national seed Alabama blanked St. John’s 8-0 in front of a record-breaking crowd of 7,573 at Sewell-Thomas Stadium. Redshirt junior right-hander Tyler Fay delivered the gem, working 7.1 innings of two-hit baseball with three walks and nine strikeouts. The performance moved Fay to second all-time in Alabama single-season history with 121 strikeouts — just seven shy of Wade LeBlanc’s program record — and improved his record to 11-4, tying LeBlanc for the most wins by an Alabama pitcher since 2006. Junior shortstop Justin LeBron powered the offense with a 3-for-4 night, including a double and two RBIs, as the Crimson Tide (41-19) broke the game open with a four-run fourth inning. Alabama is now one victory from its first trip to Omaha since 1999 — a 27-year drought the Tide faithful can taste ending as soon as Sunday.
No. 6 national seed Texas matched that intensity at UFCU Disch-Falk Field, pounding No. 11 Oregon 11-3. Adrian Rodriguez delivered the knockout blow, collecting two hits and driving in five runs to pace the Longhorns’ offensive onslaught. Despite what D1Baseball described as a “rollercoaster start” from ace lefty Dylan Volantis, the southpaw dazzled in high-leverage moments to keep the Ducks at bay. Texas now needs just one win in two chances to punch its ticket to Omaha.
QUICK HITS
Mizzou Softball’s Abby Carr Adds Another Honor: Freshman two-way star Abby Carr was named a D1 Softball Freshman All-American after a dazzling 2026 campaign. Carr led the Tigers in ERA (2.92), saves (5), home runs (12), and RBI (44). She previously earned NFCA All-Region Midwest Second Team honors and Softball America Freshman All-American recognition.
Mizzou Women’s Golf Finishes Historic 12th at NCAA Championship: The Tigers recorded the best finish in program history at the NCAA Finals, placing 12th with a 72-hole total of 1,175 strokes — topping the previous program-best by 30 strokes. Freshman Ebba Liljeberg led the way with a 30th-place finish at +2.
Mizzou Track & Field Sends Three to Eugene: Sam Innes (weight throw, 8th at 67.83m), SEC Champion Valentina Barrios, and Skylar Ciccolini (javelin) have advanced to the NCAA Championships at Hayward Field. Barrios won the West First Round javelin at 57.35m.
Mizzou Women’s Hoops Schedule Taking Shape: The Tigers announced an SEC/ACC Challenge matchup at Florida State on Thursday, December 3, and a November showdown with Kansas State at T-Mobile Arena in Kansas City. Kellie Harper’s program continues building momentum with her new crop of players now arriving on campus.
Mizzou Gymnastics Finalizes Coaching Staff: Head coach Shannon Welker completed his staff with the addition of Oleksii Koltakov, who most recently oversaw a vault resurgence at Georgia and previously earned WCGA Assistant Coach of the Year honors at Nebraska. The Tigers still have one transfer slot open with their eye reportedly on Arkansas transfer Ja’Leigh Lang.
PORTAL WATCH
Maurice Gleaton Jr. has committed to the Georgia Bulldogs. No positional details were provided.
Missouri baseball continues experiencing significant roster churn. The Tigers saw 12 players enter the portal in this cycle, including right-handers Keagen Kohlhoff, PJ Green, Kadin Muckley, Keyler Gonzalez, and Todd Feurtado III; infielders Chris Patterson, Gehrig Goldbeck, Peyton Basler, Blaize Ward, and Sam Parker; and outfielders Kaden Peer and Tyler Macon. The Tigers did add one piece, landing FGCU transfer shortstop Wilfred Gonzalez.
Mizzou Women’s Golf saw Irene Garcia enter the portal on May 26. Garcia did not participate in the Tigers’ NCAA Championship squad.
Illinois hired Yolanda McRae as an assistant coach under Jenna Hall, per D1Softball.
RECRUITING BUZZ
No new recruiting commitments were reported in this window.
GAMES TO WATCH
NCAA Tuscaloosa Super Regional — Game 2: St. John’s at No. 7 Alabama | The Crimson Tide can clinch their first Men’s College World Series berth since 1999 with a victory Sunday.
NCAA Austin Super Regional — Game 2: No. 11 Oregon at No. 6 Texas | The Longhorns aim to close out the Ducks and secure their own trip to Omaha.
