WCWS Instant Analysis: No. 9 Stanford 2, No. 5 Alabama 0

Final thoughts from the BamaCentral staff as Alabama's season ends in Oklahoma City.

Katie Windham | Jun 3, 2023

OKLAHOMA CITY — For the first time this season, Alabama softball was shut out, and it cost Team 27 its season.

After a legendary career, which included an iconic moment in Oklahoma City, Montana Fouts ended her career with a loss in the Women's College World Series.

Behind a stellar pitching performance from Alana Vawter and NiJaree Canady, No. 9 Stanford shut out No. 5 Alabama 2-0. Cardinal third baseman Sydney Steele was responsible for both runs with an RBI double in the second inning and solo home run in the seventh.

A few weeks ago, it was unknown whether or not Fouts would even be able to pitch again for Alabama. In a final gritty performance, having to take multiple breaks to readjust her knee brace, Fouts had only allowed one run through 6 and two thirds innings.

Alabama head coach Patrick Murphy came out to the circle to give Fouts the opportunity for a curtain call, but she declined and chose to stay in the game. She gave up the home run to Steele on the next pitch.

Stanford has one of the best pitching staffs in the country, and it showed against Alabama. Vawter shut out the Crimson Tide twice last season in regionals, ending Alabama's season before super regionals for the first time ever. She was able to replicate that success in Oklahoma City.

The only Alabama hit on the night came off the bat of Ashley Prange as the Crimson Tide offense once against sputtered and struggled.

Alabama ends the season with a 45-22 record, the most losses since Murphy's first season since 1999.

Check out the video above for final thoughts from ASA Hall of Fame Stadium in Oklahoma City from BamaCentral's Mathey Gibson, Edwin Stanton and Katie Windham.

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Published Jun 3, 2023

KATIE WINDHAM

Katie Windham is the assistant editor for BamaCentral, primarily covering football, basketball gymnastics and softball. She is a two-time graduate of the University of Alabama and has covered a variety of Crimson Tide athletics since 2019 for outlets like The Tuscaloosa News, The Crimson White and the Associated Press before joining BamaCentral full time in 2021. Windham has covered College Football Playoff games, the Women's College World Series, NCAA March Madness, SEC Tournaments and championships in multiple sports.