Alabama softball eliminated from WCWS with 2-0 loss to Stanford

OKLAHOMA CITY — Alabama softball’s run in the Women’s College World Series was short-lived. After falling to Tennessee on Thursday, the Crimson Tide was eliminated Friday with a 2-0 loss to Stanford.

This year marked the fourth time Alabama failed to secure a win in Oklahoma City in 14 total trips to the WCWS. The Crimson Tide finished its season with 45-22 record.

Here are a few notes from the game.

Montana Fouts’ legendary Alabama career has come to an end. The ace pitcher took the hard-luck loss in her final outing in crimson and white, giving up two earned runs on five hits while striking out four batters over seven innings.

The fact that Fouts was even able to pitch was impressive. The right-hander is still recovering from a hyperextended left knee she suffered during the SEC Tournament on May 11.

As she has since returning from the injury last weekend, Fouts wore a brace on her injured knee. Earlier this week, she downplayed the pain the injury has caused her. However, it did affect her fastball, which dropped to 66 miles per hour after routinely reaching the low 70s before the injury.

Fouts, a four-time NFCA All-American, ends her Alabama career with 100 wins and 1,181 strikeouts over five seasons. She finished this season with a 25-11 record and a 1.49 earned run average to go with a nation-best 323 strikeouts over 230 innings pitched.

"These people are my everything. They really are," an emotional Fouts said following the game. "I couldn't have asked for a better place to spend my dream. This has always been my dream. I will have people for the rest of my life. I don't even have the words. I don't know if I ever will. I don't know if I'll ever have the words for what this place, Murph, and the coaches, and these teammates mean to me. I have a home."

Alabama head coach Patrick Murphy gave his ace the opportunity to receive one final ovation from the Crimson Tide faithful in the top of the seventh. After Fouts retired the first two batters of the inning, Murphy trotted to the circle, offering his star the chance at a curtain call.

Fouts quickly declined, opting instead to finish out the game herself. From there, Oklahoma’s Sydney Steele lined a solo home run to left before Fouts retired Elle Eck for her final out in a Crimson Tide uniform.

“I feel like I wouldn't change a thing,” Fouts said of her decision to decline the curtain call. “I would take any second to be out there. Home run or not, I love playing softball. I wouldn't change a thing. I think Murph knew that before he ran out there, that I wasn't coming out of the game. I would never take a pitch off from playing a game with these girls.”

Following the game, Murphy said he figured Fouts would decline his offer but wanted to give her the opportunity she deserved after a legendary career with the Crimson Tide.

“She has the most competitive spirit I've seen in a pitcher that wears the 'A,'” Murphy said. “I mean, she's come through time and time again. You guys know this who cover us, but she can talk to an 80-year-old as easily as an eight-year-old. Not many kids can do that. Not many teenagers, not many college kids, not many adults can do that. She can. She makes everybody feel special. She takes her time with everybody. She's just an icon in the sport.”

Alabama’s bats still can’t figure out Alana Vawter. The Stanford ace stifled the Crimson Tide during last year’s Tuscaloosa Regional, recording a pair of complete-game shutouts.

Friday, she was once again untouchable, giving up one hit while striking out five batters over 5⅔ innings. Alabama leadoff hitter Ashley Prange was the only member of the Crimson Tide to have any luck against Vawter, lining a single up the middle in the bottom of the third.

It didn’t get much easier for Alabama once Vawter left the game as she was relieved by NFCA Freshman of the Year NiJaree Canady. The flame-throwing right-hander earned the save, retiring all five batters she faced while recording three strikeouts.

When asked after the game about the decision to take the ball out of Vawter's hands, Stanford head coach Jessica Allister said it was her plan all along, voicing her confidence in both of her aces.

"I think they're exceptional off of each other,' Allister said. "I think AV's drop ball and change-up are as good as anyone's in the country. I think NiJa's rise ball is as good as anyone's in the country. When you have the opportunity to use both of those things, it's foolish not to."

Alabama has been unreliable at the plate all season. However, Friday marked the first time the Crimson Tide failed to put a run on the board. Alabama scored just one run in 10 games this season and mustered up two runs on seven occasions.

Following Friday's loss, Murphy announced Alabama will be hiring a full-time hitting coach. The Crimson Tide is currently receiving help from volunteer assistant Ryan Iamurri. It's unclear whether the plan is to promote her to a full-time role or bring in a new coach for the position.

"I've already been told by my bosses that we will be [adding a hitting coach], which is really cool for us and the sport," Murphy said. " So we'll get to add. We did have a volunteer coach, don't get me wrong. Now that person becomes a paid assistant coach, which is now legal on July 1st."