Northwestern Spoils Montana Fouts' Return in Alabama Softball Super Regional Loss

In her first appearance in two weeks, injured Alabama ace pulled in third inning as Wildcats take Game 1.

 Rhoads Stadium. But everyone knows whose house it is.

Montana Fouts, a three-time All-American and one of the Alabama softball program’s most dominant pitchers, received a thunderous ovation from the crowd Friday night during team introductions before taking the circle for the first time in two weeks.

The crowd was ready to see something special in Game 1 of a super regional against Northwestern.

Sometimes things don’t go as planned.

Fouts, sporting a knee brace on her left leg from an injury at the SEC Tournament, battled as best she could but it wasn’t meant to be as she was pulled after 3 1/3 innings in Alabama’s 3-1 loss. She allowed three runs on five hits with three strikeouts and committed an error in her return.

"I'm obviously not happy with the outcome but I'm thankful I could lace up the cleats today because two weeks ago...it was surreal to be able to do that today.

Game 2 is Sunday at 8 p.m. and will be televised by ESPN. Game 3, if necessary, is Sunday with the time to be determined.

Friday night belonged to Danielle Williams. The winningest pitcher in Northwestern history and 2022 Big Ten Pitcher of the Year shut down the Crimson Tide offense. The left-hander allowed just one run on six hits with six strikeouts.

"It was a bittersweet night for Fouts. The crowd was hyped, the team was behind her and she was raring to go despite not being 100%.

"We talk about how if you can only give 70%, your teammates are going to pick up that extra 30," Fouts said. "Let's say I gave 70% tonight, and Jaala gave 130."

Two weeks ago in the seventh inning of an SEC Tournament game against Arkansas, Fouts tweaked her left knee after recording her ninth strikeout.

She tried to test her knee with some warmup pitches, but her knee wouldn’t cooperate and her day was done and career was in jeopardy.

Fouts met with renowned orthopedist Dr. Lyle Cain in Birmingham, and the Crimson Tide senior went to work with physical therapy.

She missed the regional tournament the following week, but returned to action this weekend eager to pitch.

"Right after the Arkansas game I knew I wanted to come back," Fouts said. "I was going to do whatever I could to help this team win."

Fouts, the nation’s leader in strikeouts with 314, showed no signs of rust early Friday, retiring the first three Northwestern batters. She reached speeds in the low 60s for the first batter, but she was at 67 and 68 mph by the end the inning.

Fouts gave up a home run with two outs to Northwestern’s home run leader Angela Zedak in the second inning. It was her 13th of the year.

Northwestern loaded the bases with no outs in the second, but Fouts helped turn a double play to escape with just one run allowed for a 2-0 deficit.

Fouts made a throwing error to start the third, which prompted a visit from head coach Patrick Murphy.

"I went out there and told her she is the most gritty kid I've ever coached," Murphy said. "It's unbelievable what she's done. She's wanted to be out there every single inning of every single game of her career. It was killing her not to be out there."

Fouts later walked a batter and allowed an RBI single before handing the ball to Jaala Torrence, who gave up two hits with three strikeouts in 3 2/3 innings.

Fouts said she's ready to lace up the cleats again for Game 2 if she is called upon.

"Whatever the big man (Murphy) says I'll do it," Fouts said.

This story will be updated.