Alabama Softball formally announces addition of transfer ace Kayla Beaver to replace Montana Fouts
Alabama has announced the transfer commitment of former Central Arkansas star right-hander Kayla Beaver. The addition of Beaver fills a major spot in the Crimson Tide pitching staff with ace Montana Fouts out of eligibility.
“We are so excited that Kayla will be joining us for her final year of softball. She will give us a power right arm and tremendous experience in the circle,” Alabama head coach Patrick Murphy said in a statement.
Beaver was 25-8 this season for the Sugar Bears with a 1.15 ERA and 194 strikeouts in 201.2 innings. She was named to the All-ASUN second team.
Central Arkansas won the ASUN Championship for the first time this season behind the dynamic duo on the mount of Beaver and Jordan Johnson, who named ASUN Pitcher of the Year.
“I’m looking forward to the opportunity to compete at a high level with this amazing team, family and coaches,” Beaver said in a statement. “I have dreamed about wearing an Alabama jersey since I was eight years old. I cannot wait to grow as a player and a person alongside these amazing athletes and the Alabama softball family.”
Ironically, Beaver’s final game with UCA was played at her future home of Rhoads Stadium in Tuscaloosa, Ala. The Sugar Bears were placed in the Tuscaloosa Regional, going 1-2. They did not play Alabama during that time.
Beaver’s final game was against LIU. Central Arkansas won the game 15-0 following a monstrous 13-run first inning. Beaver pitched five innings allowing just two hits and one walk.
The Alabama pitching staff has been set for the last half-decade but now faces some uncertainty with Fouts out of eligibility. Fouts leaves Alabama after five remarkable seasons that included winning national pitcher of the year honors in 2021 and multiple All-America honors.
Pitching in 160 games in her career with 121 starts, Fouts finished with a 100-32 record with a 1.66 ERA. She struck out 1181 batters over 852.2 innings with opponents only able to hit .183 off her.
“These people are my everything. They really are. I couldn’t have asked for a better place to spend my dream,” Fouts said following Alabama’s season-ending loss to Stanford. “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, [Patrick Murhpy], and the coaches, and these teammates mean to me.”