Montana Fouts Throws Second No-Hitter of Season to Secure Series Win over South Carolina

Fouts struck out 10 batters as Alabama won 4-0.

Author:
Mason Smith
Updated:
Apr 8, 2023 6:12 PM EDT
Original:
Apr 8, 2023

TUSCALOOSA, Ala.— It was a masterful performance from Montana Fouts as the Alabama softball pitcher threw a no-hitter in a 4-0 win over South Carolina.

Fouts went the distance the first game of the Saturday doubleheader, striking out 10 batters and finishing with two walks.

She also got the win in the first game of the series on Thursday night, before Friday's game was pushed back a day due to inclement weather.

“Montana [Fouts] is unreal, especially on the second day that she pitches against a team," head coach Patrick Murphy said after Alabama lost the second game of the doubleheader, 3-1.

"Everybody got a day off with rain, but to do what she did the second time in a series is just unreal. It seems like she gets better and better. I don’t know what else to say about her. She got all the awards last week and she’ll probably get them again this week.”

Out of seven innings, the Gamecocks had three without putting a runner on base. Outside of the two walks Fouts issued, South Carolina was able to reach base due to an error committed by Kenleigh Cahalan in the second inning and a hit batter in the 5th inning.

Offensively for Alabama, the bats were quiet through the first two innings, but small-ball ended up being the theme as the Crimson Tide scored all four runs in the bottom of the third inning.

Cahalan and Kali Heivilin hit back-to-back singles, followed by a walk issued to Ashley Prange. With the bases loaded, Ally Shipman hit a single through the left side to drive in the first run of the game.

Jenna Johnson then followed suit, hitting another single to left field to score the second run of the game. With the bases still loaded and only one out, Bailey Dowling flew out, but it was deep enough for Prange to tag up and score the third run of the game.

The final run came in an odd fashion as Johnson was caught in a rundown between first and second. Before she was tagged out, Shipman scored the fourth and final run of the game.

With the win, Fouts improved to 15-6 on the season.

“It was good to win the series and win the first game obviously, but I’ve still got some stuff to work on," Fouts said. "I don’t like free bases so some of that was on me. I could have done better than that, but we strung together some hits and played good defense and won the game. We’re going to get better from the game three loss.

"We’ll work on some things and move on.”