Alabama’s Season Closes In Regional Loss to Stanford

With a 6-0 loss in Game 2 on Sunday to Stanford, the Crimson Tide's "Team 26" ended the 2022 season at 44-13 (16-8) overall. Senior right-hander Montana Fouts was called upon in both elimination games and dealt 12 scoreless innings with the season on the line.

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No. 6 seed Alabama continued to struggle in the box as it has for the latter half of the season in the season-ending loss. With the double-elimination format, the Tide had entered Sunday needing two wins over the Cardinal after losing its first regional game since 2007 to Stanford on Saturday.

Game 1:

Alabama kept its season alive with a four-run sixth inning on Sunday morning to force Stanford into a Game 2. Montana Fouts pitched all seven innings in the 4-0 shutout giving up just five hits with no walks. She recorded five strikeouts and gave the Bama offense some confidence by shutting down any hopes of a Stanford response.

A double from freshman Jenna Lord opened up the offense in the sixth inning and allowed Alabama to take its first lead over Stanford of the weekend. Senior Kaylee Tow's single-base hit in the next at bat drove in another before sophomore KJ Haney recorded a two-RBI double, bringing the lead to four.

Game 2:

The final game included five scoreless innings as well; however, it was Stanford that would eventually get its bats moving in the sixth inning to finally drain Alabama's momentum on the day. The Crimson Tide was shut out for the third time in the span of 10 days in the elimination game.

Fouts, who appeared in each of Alabama's last 11 games of the year, did what she could to keep the Stanford offense at bay. She kept her shutout of Stanford on the day going through the fifth inning in Alabama's loss. Her final line for the last game of the season includes 6.1 innings pitched with nine hits and all six runs earned.

Following the emotional loss, senior Kaylee Tow – the only non-returning player for 2023 – said, "I don't have any regrets about my career."

"I gave my whole heart to this program. I wasn't able to put together the best season this past year and, you know, it is what it is. But, I promise you that I gave it my heart."

Three of Alabama's final six games of 2022 resulted in a shutout loss.

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