Montana Fouts Throws Second Solo Perfect Game

The fifth-year pitcher struck out 14 batters on the way to the second solo perfect game of her career.

Full-Court Press: Takeaways from Alabama Basketball at Texas A&MTUSCALOOSA, Ala. — For the third time in her career, Montana Fouts was perfect.

Fouts threw the second solo perfect game of her career in Sunday's 8-0 win over Longwood. It also marks the fifth straight shutout thrown by the Alabama pitching staff. 

"I felt really good with my rise ball," Fouts said after the game. "Our defense has been killing it, so I was just thinking, ‘trust them.’ Shipman was making me look even better than I probably really was, and me and Lance were really on the same page. So, good game.”

The performance comes less than 24 hours after she last faced the Lancers' lineup in Saturday night's win. Fouts was dominant against Longwood Sunday. She struck out 14 batters in six innings, including 13 of the last 15 she faced. 

"The big thing was that was the same team she pitched against 24 hours ago," said Alabama head coach Patrick Murphy. "So for me, that was huge. She got better. And I’m sure they were trying to make adjustments, but she really shoved today.”

The fifth-year pitcher was part of a combined perfect game against Alabama State in February 2021, and famously threw the solo perfect game against UCLA at the 2021 Women's College World Series. 

Alabama scored four runs in the sixth innings, with Jordan Stephens delivering the walk-off hit to earn the run-rule and secure the perfect game for Fouts. Ashley Prange had the big blow in the sixth with a three-run home run, her seventh of the season. 

Jordan Stephens caps the run-rule win and secures the perfect game for Montana Fouts!@jsteph25 x @MontanaFouts #Team27 #RollTide pic.twitter.com/MNV0GQOUPX

— Alabama Softball (@AlabamaSB) March 5, 2023

Stephens, Bailey Dowling and Emma Broadfoot all had two hits and one RBI for the Crimson Tide in the win. After a slower start on offense, Alabama finished with 12 hits. 

Fouts only needed 73 pitches to take care of the Lancers. She improves to 9-1 on the season and has lowered her ERA to 1.54 thanks to two shutout performances this weekend. 

Alabama has won five straight games and sits at 16-3 overall. 

It is the eighth perfect game in Alabama program history and first since Lexi Kilfoyl's against Georgia last April. Jaala Torrence threw a five-inning no-hitter Saturday against Robert Morris. 

See also:

Full SEC Tournament Bracket is Set, Who 1-Seed Alabama Will Face in First Game

No. 20 Alabama Baseball Holds Off UIC to Finish Weekend Sweep

Full-Court Press: Takeaways from Alabama Basketball at Texas A&M