The Alabama Crimson Tide softball team swept the Hillenbrand Invitational last weekend, improving to 10-0 on the young season.
Freshman pitcher Montana Fouts continued her stellar play racking up team MVP and SEC Freshman of the Week honors along the way. Fouts took the mound for the series opener against USF and the #9 Arizona Wildcats, who hosted the series. The stellar freshman threw 14 innings with just one unearned run on nine hits with 20 strikeouts.
Head coach Patrick Murphy has said Fouts is “one of the hardest working pitchers we’ve ever had.” So far she’s proven just that, marking a 4-0 record with 33 strikeouts and only two runs allowed through 27 innings.
Kaylee Tow also brought in her second SEC Player of the Week in as many weeks. Tow had an impressive showing against Cal State Fullerton with a .545 batting average, 2 doubles, 3 RBIs and six putouts defensively. The sophomore outfielder also played a big role in the victory over #9 Arizona with a season-high eight putouts.
The win over #9 Arizona was a big milestone for the Crimson Tide early in the promising season. Not only was it the first time the Crimson Tide had ever beaten Arizona in Tucson, but it also was the first time the Crimson Tide has beaten a top 10 team on the road since 1999 against Texas.
Scores for each game from the Hillenbrand Invitational:
- Vs. USF | W, 2-0
- Vs. New Mexico | W, 1-0
- Vs. Cal State Fullerton | W, 7-2
- Vs. #9 Arizona | W, 6-1
- Vs. UIC | W, 13-4 (5 innings)
The Crimson Tide will host its home opener Friday at 4 p.m. CT in the Easton Bama Bash with a doubleheader with Missouri State and Minnesota. Alabama will host those teams again on Saturday before facing ULM on Sunday.
(Photo courtesy of The Crimson White)
