Alabama Softball's Montana Fouts Roughs up LSU With Second Shutout of the Weekend
Facing Montana Fouts is a tough enough challenge for a softball team. But when the Alabama ace pitcher comes into the circle with an intense look like someone just insulted her dog—watch out.
Fouts was nearly unhittable Saturday in the rubber game against LSU in a 2-0 win at the regular-season home finale at Rhoads Stadium.
Fouts allowed two hits, struck out nine and walked one in the shutout, her second against the Tigers this weekend. On Friday she struck out six and gave up five hits in a 4-0 win.
"She gets into these...I don't want to call it a mood, but you could just see it in her face that it was going to be hard to beat," Alabama coach Patrick Murphy said. "It's really fun to watch."
LSU led off the game with a single, but Fouts retired the next 13 batters to send a message that nothing will come easy in the batter's box.
"Today I had a postseason mindset," Fouts said. "Win the first one, lose the second one and you have to win the third one or go home."
Fouts has been lights out against LSU in her career. She boasts a 7-1 record with three shutouts, 40 strikeouts and 11 runs allowed.
"I guess it's an internal rivalry thing and because they are so good," Fouts said.
Fouts (20-8, 1.38 ERA) got some help early. Ashley Prange jumped on the first pitch she saw in the first inning and crushed a solo home run off the left-field scoreboard for an early 1-0 Crimson Tide lead.
The homer was the 13th of the season, which leads the team.
"I knew I wanted to attack early in the count because yesterday I watched a couple of really good pitches," Prange said. "I went up there aggressive."
Prange accounted for the other Alabama run with a fielder's choice in the third inning that scored Larissa Preuitt.
It wasn't a great offensive day for Alabama with just three hits. It was a great day on defense. Jenna Johnson kept LSU from sneaking in a hit off Fouts in the second inning with a diving catch.
Later in the third inning, second baseman Kali Heivilin snagged a slow roller and zipped the ball over to first base for the third out of the inning.
"I was feeling pretty good because my defense was making plays out there," Fouts said. "They really kept the momentum going with making great plays."
Next for Alabama (38-13, 11-10 SEC) is a three-game road series with Ole Miss next weekend before the SEC Tournament in Fayetteville, Arkansas.
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FINAL: Alabama 2, LSU 0
Top 7th LSU
- And that's a wrap. Montana Fouts shuts the door on LSU. No runs allowed on two hits with nine strikeouts and one walk. She shutout the Tigers in 14 innings pitched this weekend.
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Bottom 6th UA
- 1-2-3 inning again. Alabama has to hope a 2-0 lead can hold up heading to the 7th.
Top 6th LSU
- Another 1-2-3 inning for Fouts. She's allowed two hits with seven strikeouts
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End 5th: Alabama 2, LSU 0
Bottom 5th UA
- A quick 1-2-3 inning for Alabama
Top 5th LSU
- Fly out to left field ends the threat. No runs on one hit for LSU. Fouts has not allowed a run against LSU in 12 innings this weekend.
- Two-out single by Gutierrez puts runners on first and second for the Tigers.
- One-out walk ends the streak for Fouts of not allowing a baserunner at 13 batters.
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Hot Sauce with the photo finish in the Hot Sauce-Taco race. I want to see the video replay. That's the final race of the season with Taco getting the most wins with 16 to Hot Sauce's 10.
End 4th: Alabama 2, LSU 0
Bottom 4 Alabama
- Lauren Esman with solid single to right field with two outs
Top 4th LSU
- An eight-pitch, 1-2-3 inning for Fouts. LSU still searching for how to get to her.
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End 3rd: Alabama 2, LSU 0
Bottom 3rd UA
- Alabama gets one run on one hit.
- Johnson grounds into a fielder's choice, but Preuitt comes in to score. Alabama up 2-0.
- That prompts a pitching change. Kilponen is out and Sydney Berzon is in.
- Jenna Johnson with Bama's second hit of the day puts runners on the corners for Prange, who homered her first time up.
- And Preuitt immediately steals second base.
- Larissa Preuitt draws a walk for Alabama's second baserunner of the day.
Top 3rd LSU
- After allowing a leadoff single to start the game, Montana Fouts has retired nine straight with six strikeouts.
- Another outstanding defensive play for Alabama. Second baseman Kali Heivilin charges in to make the grab and rip the ball to first to get the final out.
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End 2nd: Alabama 1, LSU 0
Bottom 2nd UA
- LSU's Ali Kilponen needs just six pitches to retire the Bama order. Bottom of the Inning lasted about two minutes.
Big Al making it tough to do live updates.
Top 2nd LSU
- Another strikeout for Fouts. That's five through two innings. No runs on no hits for the Tigers.
- Super diving catch by Jenna Johnson in right field for the first out.
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End 1st: Alabama 1, LSU 0
Bottom 1st UA
- The home run is Prange's 13th of the season and leads the team.
- After Jenna Johnson comes close to knocking one out of the park (for an out), Ashley Prange crushes the first pitch she sees over the wall and against the scoreboard for a solo home run. Bama up 1-0 early.
Top 1st LSU
- Strikeout No. 3 for Fouts ends the inning. No runs, one hit for LSU
- Fouts responds with back-to-back strikeouts.
- Danieca Coffey starts the game with a leadoff single
