Fouts Dazzles for Alabama Softball in Game 1, Tide fizzles in Game 2 Against Auburn

Senior honored prior to the game for Montana Fouts Day and doesn't disappoint. Crimson Tide held in check in Game 2.

Montana Fouts’ senior day tribute was delayed a day, but it was well worth the wait.

Fouts didn’t disappoint in her performance in the circle against Auburn on Saturday. The fifth-year senior struck out seven and allowed three hits in a 6-1 Alabama win.

Friday’s game was pushed back due to weather and Alabama played a doubleheader Saturday. With clear skies and sunshine, Fouts delivered for the packed house at Rhoads Stadium.

No. 13 Alabama dropped the second game 5-1.

"Today was perfect," Alabama coach Patrick Murphy said. "The whole thing before the game was perfect, and the video of the little girls saying how much they want to be like her was...that's what we've seen from her for five years."

Saturday's games were sold out for months. The reason? It was Auburn. And it was Fouts' big day. Here’s a peek at her honors over the last five seasons: NFCA Pitcher of the Year in 2021, three-time All-American (first-team in 2021), SEC Tournament MVP in 2021, SEC Co-Pitcher of the Year in 2021, two-time Women's College World Series All-Tournament team, SEC Freshman of the Year in 2019 and gold medalist for Team USA at the World Games in 2022.

"I'm extremely grateful for this place, that's nothing new," Fouts said. "They had a really cool video they made for me that made me tear up a little bit. That was something more motivating than sad. I'm really grateful to love something so much."

Fouts got some help getting the win Saturday. Ally Shipman drove in three runs on three hits, including a double and her fourth home run of the year.

Shipman’s first-inning double scored Jenna Johnson in the first inning and her solo homer in the second made it a quick 2-0 lead.

"Being able to celebrate Montana was really cool. She is honestly the face of college softball," Shipman said. "She's an even better human being. To support her for senior day was really cool."

Ashley Prange just missed on her 13th homer in the fifth. The ball hit the top of the wall in right-center field and bounced back into play. She settled for the RBI double. She left the game with an ankle injury and didn't play in the second game.

That got the inning off to a nice start. Shipman and Dowling followed with RBI singles to give Alabama and Fouts a comfortable 5-0 lead.

Auburn struck for a run in the sixth on a leadoff home run by Denver Bryant, but the Crimson Tide got the run back on a fielder’s choice that scored Emma Broadfoot, who singled and reached third on an error.

Game 2 was a train wreck start for Alabama. First, a sensational inning-ending double play was reviewed and went in Auburn's favor. Later, an Alabama error kept the inning alive. 

Bryant made Alabama pay for the error by blasting a three-run home run to deep left field. 

The play was originally ruled in Alabama's favor. An Auburn runner was called out at first base. Alabama came to bat, but minutes later the officials got together and were informed that the play was overturned.

"You can't give a good team five outs in an inning like we did," Murphy said. "They got a little help from the SEC office as well."

Alabama got a run back in the bottom of the first with an RBI single from Cahalan.

But Alabama couldn't get anything else going with Maddie Penta in the circle for the Tigers. She held the Crimson Tide to one run on three hits and seven strikeouts.

Alex Salter took the loss. All four runs she allowed were unearned. Alabama committed three errors, which was the same number of hits it had.

Jaala Torrence gave up two hits in three innings of relief, but one was a solo home run by Tiger slugger Bri Ellis. It was her 12th of the season.

No. 13 Alabama (34-14, 10-7 SEC) and No. 21 Auburn (34-14, 10-7 SEC) meet for the series finale on Sunday at 11:30 a.m. The game will be televised by ESPN.