Alabama erupted for a program-record 21 runs in an NCAA tournament game, routing Alabama State 21-3 on Friday in the opening round of the Tuscaloosa Regional at Sewell-Thomas Stadium in Tuscaloosa, Alabama.

Justin Lebron hit a three-run homer and finished with four RBIs, and Bryce Fowler and Brady Neal each added three hits and a home run for the Crimson Tide. Fowler went 3-for-4 with three RBIs, including a two-run shot and a leadoff triple to start the scoring in the first inning. Neal went 3-for-5 with a solo home run and two RBIs. Luke Vaughn also homered, a two-run blast in the second, as part of a 2-for-2, three-RBI performance.

The game was a tight 3-2 contest after Alabama State's Miguel Oropeza hit a two-run homer in the top of the third inning. However, Alabama blew the game open with a six-run fourth inning to take a 9-2 lead. The Crimson Tide continued the onslaught, scoring three runs in the fifth, six in the sixth and three more in the seventh to put the game away. Eric Hines and Evan Taylor each drove in two runs for Alabama.

Alabama starter Tyler Fay pitched 5⅔ innings, allowing three runs on six hits while striking out eight and walking one.

For Alabama State, Oropeza went 2-for-3 with his two-run homer, and Trey Callaway added a solo home run, going 2-for-4. The Hornets were hampered by four errors in the field. Starting pitcher Jorhan LaBoy surrendered seven runs, five of them earned, on seven hits in 3⅔ innings.

Up next: Alabama State faces Oklahoma State in an elimination game at Sewell-Thomas Stadium in Tuscaloosa on Saturday at 2 p.m. ET. Alabama advances to face South Carolina Upstate at the same venue on Saturday at 7 p.m. 

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