Rob Vaughn couldn't have asked for a better start for his Alabama baseball team. They've played 12 games and they've won 12 times. The undefeated Crimson Tide will see an uptick soon enough on the schedule, particularly when SEC play starts next weekend at Texas A&M.
Before that though, Alabama has a couple of mid-week matchups against in-state schools this week, a weekend series with Presbyterian at Sewell-Thomas this weekend, and a mid-week matchup with UAB next Tuesday as the team continues to gear up for the increased competition level.
The Crimson Tide finally got some respect from pollsters this week, making their 2025 debut in the D1baseball.com poll at No. 23.
Tuesday will see Alabama face its first true road game of the year in Jacksonville against the Gamecocks, and then they'll turn around and face a ranked opponent in Troy in Tuscaloosa on Wednesday. Here's how you can watch those games:
How to watch, stream, and listen to Alabama baseball vs. Jacksonville State and Troy
Tuesday, 3/4 at Jacksonville State
Time: 3:30 PM CT
Stream: ESPN+
Listen: Varsity Network App
This will be the second matchup this season between the Crimson Tide and the Gamecocks. Last week, Alabama blasted Jacksonville State 20-11 in Tuscaloosa. Alabama scored 13 runs in the second inning of that game and held a 16-1 lead after just two innings before the Gamecocks rallied a bit.
Georgia Tech transfer Aeden Finateri will make his first start of the season for the Crimson Tide.
Wednesday, 3/5 vs. No. 19 Troy
Time: 4:00 PM CT
Stream: SEC Network+
Listen: Varsity Network App
Troy is off to a hot start to the season as well with an 11-1 mark in their first 12 games. The Trojans were projected by many to have the best team in the state of Alabama this season and will likely be the most formidable test of the season to date for the Crimson Tide.
Vaughn has not announced his starting pitcher for this game yet. Normally, this would likely be JT Blackwood's turn in the rotation, but I wouldn't be surprised if Vaughn chose to go with his normal Friday starter - Zane Adams - on five days rest.
With a cupcake in town for the weekend series, shuffling the deck might make sense to ensure one of the Crimson Tide's better pitchers is on the bump against the Trojans.