Patrick Murphy, Alabama players explain how team responded after Montana Fouts' injury

When Alabama superstar pitcher Montana Fouts left Thursday’s SEC Tournament quarterfinal matchup against Arkansas in the seventh inning with an apparent leg injury, it would not have been surprising to see the No. 5 seed Crimson Tide lose the game. They were tied at 1, and seeing you star player go down can be demoralizing.

But Alabama wouldn’t let it happen. Alex Salter came in and threw 2.1 great innings while designated player Bailey Dowling roped a two-run double in the ninth inning as the Crimson Tide escaped with a 3-2 extra inning victory.

“I think we definitely all rallied behind her as a team. We all love each other too — truly and genuinely love each other. One goes down the next one steps up,” Dowling said after the game. “We got the job done.”

Montana Fouts left the field with an apparent leg injury.

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Salter is no slouch on the mound — she is now 7-3 on the season with a 2.07 ERA and 1.24 WHIP — but it was a massive spot for the redshirt sophomore to go into the game off the bench.

She entered with a runner on in the seventh and then allowed a walk and a single to load the bases. But Salter bunkered down to force a fielder’s choice to get out of the inning.

“My mindset is trusting my pitches,” Salter said. “I actually did warm up before just in case you just never know what happens in the game or if anybody needs to come in because I know the rest of the pitchers are ready if their name was called just like mine was. We’re just always ready when our time comes.”

Dowling’s heroics came in the top of the ninth inning with one out and a 3-2 count. Dowling lasered a ball down third base that was too difficult for Hannah Gammill to stop, leading to two runs to score.

“It’s a really, really close team,” Alabama head coach Patrick Murphy said. “We gathered everybody on the field. Said a prayer. They talked for a while. Montana has been the leader from day one. The one that speaks up in the huddle, the one that speaks up at practice, in our team room, the whole thing. I really think that they wanted to have her back 100% tonight. Salty came in and did a hell of a job, made some really good pitches. We just kept rallying and finally somebody gets the job done and it was Dowling.”

Alabama will face the winner of No. 1 Tennessee and No. 8 Florida, a game that is going on Friday morning.

If they wins the tournament, the Crimson Tide will have won two of the last three conference tournaments. Alabama has won five SEC Tournament titles under Murphy, who is himself a five-time SEC Coach of the Year.

“I think sometimes you just try too hard,” Murphy said. “This is a team that everybody that covers us for Alabama has seen it. They just really really want it and sometimes you try a little bit too hard. Instead of letting the game come to you, you try to force it. But, tonight, I saw some really, really good turnarounds and a lot of grit by our team.”