Torres’ Grand Slam Sends Alabama to First CWS Since 1999

TUSCALOOSA, Ala. - The Crimson Tide defeated St. John’s in the Tuscaloosa Super Regional to advance to the College World Series in Omaha for the first time since 1999. Alabama dominated game one with an 8-0 shutout win, then faced adversity in game two, holding onto a narrow 3-2 lead going into the seventh inning. It was then that senior third baseman Jason Torres delivered a clutch at-bat, delivering the knockout blow and exemplifying what head coach Rob Vaughn calls “being your best when your best is needed.”

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“It’s a story of a kid that came two years ago. I met JT [Jason Torres] in person the first time we showed up for classes, and I still to this day remember him walking into center field and meeting him in the indoor in there. And man, we brought him in, and it was just one of those things, like we talk about just being your best when your best is needed, right? And that’s what it was. It was a moment that this place will remember forever. This guy will bring his kids back here one day, and we will all be talking about that swing.” Alabama’s head coach Rob Vaughn on Torres' clutch grand slam following the Tide’s 7-2 win over St. John’s.

In game two of the Tuscaloosa Super Regional, in the bottom of the sixth inning, the Johnnies’ catcher Adam Agresti knocked a solo homer to bring St. John’s within one run, making it a 3-2 game going into the seventh inning, with it seeming the Johnnies had all of the momentum. That wouldn’t last long, with the Crimson Tide attacking St. John’s reliever Jack Nestler, quickly loading the bases. That made way for Torres to come up to the plate in a bases-loaded, two-out situation. The Crimson Tide’s third baseman didn’t have the best showing in Alabama’s game one win over St. John’s, which saw him strike out three times and not record a hit, but he found a way to bounce back in game two and write his name in the history of all-time Alabama sports moments as he ripped a bases-clearing shot on a 1-0 count to the Right Field Ragers (Alabama’s student section), creating arguably one of the loudest crowd pops in Sewell-Thomas Stadium history. The homer, his ninth of the season, gave the Tide a commanding 7-2 lead going into the eighth inning and erased any momentum going for St. John’s.

Following Alabama’s 7-2 win over St. John’s, Torres shared what his big moment felt like and reflected on his mindset before and during the at-bat. He also joked about his struggles in game one, when he struck out three times.

“I mean, honestly, I was just trying to put the ball into play because the day before I was kind of getting blown away by 90 MPH, so I was just trying to put a fast ball into play. I knew I was gonna get one, and I did, and it went out, it was fun.” Torres said, “Man, I love this place, and I’m not even like joking like everyone that has to do with this place, the teachers, the academic advisor, our coaches, our players, the nutritionists, everybody in this university is just the best thing ever like this is everything I could’ve ever asked for, I love this place with everything I got.”

The Crimson Tide’s third baseman was night and day from his performance the night before, with Torres finishing game two batting two-for-five at the plate with a double and his pivotal bases-loaded homer. He finished with four RBIs and didn’t strike out once in the Tide’s Super Regional Championship win over St. John’s.

Torres also recalled last year’s final game, a disappointing 5-6 loss to Southern Mississippi in the Hattiesburg Final. He remembered seeing the emotions on the seniors' faces who knew they’d played their last college baseball game. That memory stuck with him as Alabama reached the postseason this year, motivating him to keep his own career going.

“I’ve been here now two years, and the guys last year, I remember the last game we played was tough, man. I remember seeing everybody’s faces, especially the seniors that you’re never gonna play with again. And, I mean, that’s all I thought about, honestly, ever since we started playing, even the SEC Tournament, like I just wanna keep playing baseball, and I love these guys, and I love these coaches, and that’s all we wanna keep doing is just keep playing.”

Now, Alabama’s third baseman will get his wish, as the Crimson Tide is guaranteed at least two more games. They’ll be back in action this Saturday, June 13, facing Oklahoma, a team they took two out of three from in early April.

Micah Nichols covers Alabama baseball, football, and basketball for Tide100.9. Follow @Micahnichols0 on X for in-game updates, highlights, and more Crimson Tide content.