iStockphoto / USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
The Alabama baseball team has been eliminated from the College World Series. The Crimson Tide was the first competitor eliminated from its side of the bracket.
A loss to Texas concluded a historically bad run in Omaha. Alabama achieved something not seen in seven decades.
Adding insult to injury, the Tide’s starting pitcher admittedly did little to help his team. He confirmed that he’d tipped pitches in his final appearance.
Alabama baseball is done.
The Crimson Tide entered the postseason as a 1-seed which allowed the program to host a regional in Tuscaloosa. It swept through its competition with three straight wins to advance to the supers.
There, it upended St. John’s in two consecutive matchups to punch a ticket to the College World Series. The 5-0 start created positive momentum. Alabama wouldn’t capitalize.
The team was shut out in its opener in Omaha vs. SEC foe Oklahoma, 9-0. It then faced elimination against Texas in Game 2.
Unfortunately, the second contest played out much like the first.
The Longhorns jumped out to a quick 7-1 lead through two frames. They’d double that advantage by game’s end. Texas won the contest 14-2 to keep national title hopes alive. Alabama’s season came to an close.
Zane Adams started on the mound in the elimination game. He was shelled to the tune of seven runs across 1.2 innings of work. Broadcasters caught him tipping pitches on the rubber.
Eduardo Perez calling every pitch from Alabama pitcher Zane Adams.
Tipping every changeup. Good night bama pic.twitter.com/8DchgJhicY
— CliffsCovers (@CliffsCovers) June 15, 2026
Adams’ glove and leg position on his delivery showed whether he was throwing fastball, curveball, or changeup. Former big leaguer Eduardo Perez noticed immediately.
Texas head coach Jim Schlossnagle dismissed the notion that it impacted his hitters’ approach at the plate, though Perez believed otherwise.
“We didn’t have anything on it,” Schlossnagle said after the game. “Not that I’d tell you if we did. Zane’s a good pitcher… He was pretty unlucky early.”
Adams was also asked about the tipped pitches. He confirmed it but didn’t think it was the source of his poor performance.
I asked Zane Adams if he was tipping his pitches today, and he confirmed he was.
“I was, if you go back and look, obviously, like you could tell. But I mean, I don’t know if that played a part in the game or what. That’s the first time I’ve heard of it.” pic.twitter.com/56zAxS7F5t
— Davis Cornell (@DavisCornell2) June 15, 2026
Regardless of whether or not the tell played a role, the loss cemented Alabama’s spot in the baseball record books.
The Crimson Tide made sad history.
Best I can tell, with Alabama losing 14-2 to Texas in the 9th inning, this will be the largest negative run differential (-21) for a CWS team that was swept since Colorado State College (now Northern Colorado) was outscored by 25 runs in the 1957 College World Series.
— Mike Rodak (@mikerodak) June 15, 2026
Alabama posted the largest negative run differential of a swept College World Series team in 70 years. The squad was outscored by 21 runs in two games. Not since 1957 had a program performed worse.
For the Crimson Tide, it’s a disappointing end to an otherwise successful season. Alabama will not secure it first ever national title.
Instead, it leaves Omaha without a win after snapping a 27-year College World Series drought.