Softball Collects First SEC Sweep of 2022

On Sunday, Alabama softball completed its first conference series sweep of 2022 in a 6-1 victory over South Carolina. Senior right-hander Montana Fouts collected the win making her 16-1 on the season.

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Fouts found her rhythm again on Sunday and pitched her second consecutive game with over 10 strikeouts after a dominant performance on Friday started the weekend with an Alabama win.

Her Sunday appearance started near perfect as Fouts didn't give up a hit or a walk until the fourth inning. While it was not as pretty as her first three frames in Game 3, Fouts' composure and mental toughness were on display in the fourth inning as she left three runners stranded, giving up just one run, a walk and the Gamecocks' first hit of the outing.

She retired the next two innings in order and only gave up one hit in the seventh inning to seal the series tieing a career-high in strikeouts with 16 total on the day. Her final line for the appearance includes her 15th win on the season (15-1) with 16 strikeouts, two hits and two walks through seven innings.

Alabama's offense was efficient in Game 3 as the team tied its season-high of 13 hits in the appearance with all nine starters getting on base at least once.

Five separate players recorded an RBI for the Tide on Sunday with sophomore shortstop Baily Dowling leading the way by driving in two for the afternoon.

Junior left-fielder Jenna Johnson and graduate first-baseman Kaylee Tow both tallied an RBI in the first inning and went 3-for-4 in the appearance. Tow collected three singles and Johnson picked up two singles and a lead-off double in the fourth inning.

Alabama took a 3-0 lead in the first inning and, for the season, holds a 13-1 record when scoring in the first inning of games. In 2022, the Crimson Tide has outscored its opponents 40-5 in the first frame.

Team 26 moves to 27-4 on the year with an improving 6-3 record in conference play. This week, Alabama will have two mid-week appearances before the coming weekend series with Georgia. The Tide will play a home game with Alabama State on Tuesday at 6 p.m. and a road appearance with Jacksonville State on Wednesday at 6 p.m. before welcoming UGA to Tuscaloosa on Friday.

Alabama softball is celebrating its 10th anniversary since the 2012 national championship team during the Georgia series.

The first pitch for Game 1 against the Bulldogs is scheduled for 3:30 p.m. CST and can be found on ESPN 2 and on the radio at 97.5 FM.

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