The Latest on Montana Fouts as Alabama Holds Practice at WCWS

The Crimson Tide punched its WCWS ticket with a Super Regional round win over Northwestern last weekend in Tuscaloosa, stealing the series after a game one loss to take games two and three.

Mathey Gibson | May 31, 2023

OKLAHOMA CITY — Just a year after failing to reach the Super Regionals in 2022, No. 5 seed Alabama softball is back in familiar territory.

On Wednesday, Patrick Murphy's squad took the field for their first practice of the Women's College World Series, with opening play beginning on Thursday, June 1, at 11 a.m. CT against No. 4 Tennessee.

In the bullpen, super regional stars Jaala Torrence and Montana Fouts looked sharp – both hitting their locations with ease while mixing in off-speed pitches on the corners.

Fouts, who has been battling a left knee hyperextension, was sporting a brace.

"I think it's a daily process," Murphy said of the injury. "I think she could probably answer it better. Our training staff, the doctors, anybody who has laid a hand on her has been incredible. I think she'd echo that."

Freshman Kenleigh Cahalan displayed her power in limited batting practice, hitting three home runs, including a pair of back-to-back knocks to deep left-center field.

Sophomore Kali Heivilin stole the show in the infield, making a number of difficult plays at second base.

Practice, scheduled to be an hour long, came to an early conclusion due to the threat of rain.

As they prepare to face Karen Weekly's Volunteers, the Crimson Tide isn't afraid to embrace the underdog role versus SEC foe.

"They double-dipped in the SEC; they won the regular season and the tournament, so they're the favorite," Murphy said. "They're the favorite in this game. We're the underdogs big-time. I feel like we're like the little engine that could, but either way, I think it will be a really entertaining game. We always have good games between Tennessee and Alabama. It could go either way."

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