Montana Fouts Was Available for Alabama Softball in NCAA Regional Final

Patrick Murphy said the ace pitcher could have appeared for the Crimson Tide for the first time since a knee injury in the SEC Tournament.

Even though Alabama did not end up needing her thanks to another impressive performance from Jaala Torrence, head coach Patrick Murphy said, "it was a possibility" for star pitcher Montana Fouts to throw in Sunday's regional final. 

No. 5 Alabama beat Middle Tennessee 1-0 in Game 7 of the Tuscaloosa Regional behind a complete-game shutout from Torrence and Ally Shipman solo home run to advance to Super Regionals.

Fouts was seen tossing the ball in the bullpen during the first game of Sunday's doubleheader, which Alabama lost 4-1. In the second game, she actually threw some pitches in the bullpen. Murphy was questioning whether or not to bring Fouts in to throw in the scoreless game. 

"She warmed up in the third or fourth inning just to see how it felt," Murphy said. "She [Torrence] was just dominating, and I was just like, ‘I’m not sure.’ I’ve never had this situation, and there’s not a coaching one-on-one that has this situation. We’ve been through lots of stuff, but never this situation."

The Alabama ace has not pitched in a game since hyperextending her knee in the seventh inning of the SEC Tournament quarterfinals against Arkansas on May 11. 

Fouts had thrown earlier in the morning under the watchful eye of orthopedic surgeon Dr. Lyle Cain. After consulting with Fouts' parents, the doctors and pitching coach Lance McMahon, it was determined that she would be available if necessary. 

Fortunately for Fouts and the Crimson Tide, Torrence was locked in and handled business on her own. According to Torrence, Fouts was having conversations with her and encouraging her in between every inning. 

Now, Fouts will have the rest of the week to rest and rehab to try and get ready to pitch if needed as Alabama prepares to host No. 12 Northwestern for Super Regional beginning Friday. 

"Thankfully both of them pulled through, and she can keep rehabbing and doing what she needs to do for next weekend," Murphy said. 

See also:

Shipman Sends Alabama to Supers with Seventh-Inning Home Run