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Rob Vaughn calls out Alabama baseball crowd before NCAA region championship

Alabama baseball coach Rob Vaughn was satisfied with the Crimson Tide's win against USC Upstate. He just wished more folks saw it.

"The crowds have been good the last two days, especially through the rain delay. Obviously, you got softball on TV," Vaughn said after Alabama's 7-5 win over the Spartans.

A 90-minute rain delay ensued before the first pitch of the game on Saturday, May 30. However, with no actual rain in the immediate area, fans were allowed to stay in Sewell-Thomas Stadium and enjoy watching Alabama softball in the Women's College World Series on the jumbotron.

By the time the game was over, 3,011 heads had been counted in attendance. When The Joe can hold 8,500 people, that's not enough for Vaughn.

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"And I'm gonna say this − people might get mad at me − we need more. We need more. I look out there and it's 7-2 and we've got people gone and the stands aren't full," Vaughn continued. "Like, tomorrow night at 7 o'clock, we need 7,000 people here rocking, and I think these guys have deserved that."

With the No. 7 overall seed in the NCAA Tournament, Alabama (39-19) has already secured a super regional in Tuscaloosa should it win out on Sunday, May 31 against Oklahoma State or Upstate once again. The Crimson Tide has had its skids, notably a three-series losing streak in the regular season, but it also dominated SEC play with two 7-game win streaks.

"This town loves a winner, man, and we've got a group of winners here," Vaughn said.

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A region championship victory would mark Alabama's first since 2023. Since Vaughn took over at the conclusion of that season, the program has advanced to the NCAA Tournament all three years, and he knows what's being built is worth seeing.

"We need them to show up for these boys tomorrow and make this place hell for whoever we're playing tomorrow night," Vaughn said.

"Not 7,000 people in the stands being entertained. Seven thousand people helping, scratching and clawing and fighting for every pitch for nine innings."

Emilee Smarr covers Alabama basketball and Crimson Tide athletics for The Tuscaloosa News. She can be reached via email at esmarr@usatodayco.com.

This article originally appeared on The Tuscaloosa News: Rob Vaughn wants more from Alabama baseball fans for region championship

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