Tyler Fay Makes Crimson Tide History with Solo Nine-Inning No-Hitter

TUSCALOOSA, Ala. – Following the Crimson Tide's 6-0 game one victory against No. 18 Florida, Tyler Fay reflected on his historic performance. Fay became only the second Crimson Tide pitcher ever to throw a solo nine-inning no-hitter, the first since Eddie Owcar accomplished the feat in 1942.

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Fay, a junior right-handed pitcher, had a career night, recording a personal best 13 strikeouts and throwing 132 pitches across all nine innings, his longest outing to date. He also kept the Gators hitless. After the game, Fay spoke to the media about how special it was to make Crimson Tide history, admitting he never imagined being in this position, especially since he couldn't even throw a no-hitter in high school, where the competition wasn't as tough as the SEC. Fay revealed he didn't realize he had a no-hitter going until the eighth inning, when he noticed he had thrown over 100 pitches and still hadn't allowed a hit.

"It was incredibly special, that was something that I could have never imagined, I mean, I didn't even do this in high school, where they weren't quite as good, I mean it was crazy, I just kept going back out and trying to attack the zone and looked up in the seventh, eighth inning and I was like oh wait I got like 100 and something pitches but man we don't have any hits left so yeah it was pretty incredible for sure." 

Fay went on to share that he expected to be pulled from the mound at some point during the game. After the seventh and eighth innings, he looked at pitching coach and associate head coach Jason Jackson, expecting to be told he was done. When that didn't happen, Fay told Jackson to let him pitch the final inning. In the ninth, the Nebraska native recorded two strikeouts, and his left fielder, Justin Osterhouse, made the final out with a fly ball, sealing Fay's historic night.

"I was expecting to (be pulled out of the game), but after the seventh, eighth inning I looked over at him [Jason Jackson], and he walked by, and he didn't say like 'you're done', he just looked at me, and I was like 'keep me in', and he was like 'alright'". 

When asked if he had ever felt as in control of his pitches as he did today, Fay responded, "I don't think so, no. That was probably the best my fastball command has ever been, moving it up and down, in and out. The cutter was really good, especially against a couple of those lefties, jamming it under their hands. The slider and changeup were both working and in the zone, and I had a good feel for them. But really, just hitting the corners and dotting up lower in the zone with the fastball was the biggest thing for me, getting ahead in counts and stealing pitches that way."

Lastly, Fay's head coach, Rob Vaughn, shared his thoughts on the former Nebraska walk-on pitcher's biggest improvements since joining the Crimson Tide in 2023. Vaughn credited Jackson, Fay's pitching coach, and also praised Fay's grit and competitiveness. He also highlighted Fay's growing confidence on the mound and in his pitches.

"Earlier in the year last year, he was pitching the fifth and sixth innings against Alabama State on a Tuesday. It'sa dude that's everything we stand for, and I can't take credit for that it's all Jason Jackson and what he's done with him and Kasen [Rainey] and the work they've done with them because he came in three or four years ago or whatever it was as a walkon from Nebraska that bet on himself, and is just continuing to get better." Vaughn added, "I've told everybody to me the biggest difference is T Fay's cutter was good last year it was kind of a pitch he added last year, his slider always been good the fastball has turned over you know he's been able to get the four seam up a little bit and all that is good but I think he just expects success now and that started back in the fall that's not something that started this spring. I think just watching him walk around I think he'd tell you there were times last year and you can correct me if I'm wrong but it's like I hope this goes well like I hope this is good today and now I think with the way he's carrying himself he's worked hard and you don't get to expect success if you don't work hard." 

Alabama will look to take the series in game two tomorrow, scheduled for Saturday at 2 p.m. in Sewell-Thomas Stadium. Regardless of how the series ends, every Alabama baseball fan will remember game one's 6-0 win, highlighted by Fay's historic nine-inning solo no-hitter. It marked the Crimson Tide's ninth-ever no-hitter and the first solo effort this century.

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