Patrick Murphy gives health update on Montana Fouts ahead of Game 3 with WCWS on the line

The softball world had its collective eyes on Alabama ace pitcher Montana Fouts during Saturday’s Game 2 of the Tuscaloosa Super Regional. One day after making her return to the mound following over two weeks off due to injury, Fouts shut down the Northwestern with 2.2 innings of no-run ball to claim a 2-1 win.

It was an impressive performance that drew the praise of her head coach Patrick Murphy.

“I would say she might be 70%,” Murphy said. “I’m not sure what she would say. She’d probably say 100%. But to me it feels like her ball looks so heavy when it comes out of her hand now. I don’t know if it’s because she’s spending more or what. But a heavy ball in softball, it’s hard to hit. That’s what it looks like to me from the dugout. She’s just (an) incredible athlete and I’m glad she she wears crimson.”

Fouts entered the game in the bottom of the fifth inning with one out after the Wildcats had tied the game. She stranded two runners on base with two flyouts, the first of eight straight outs she obtained in her 24th win of the season.

It seems highly unlikely that Murphy does not pitch Fouts at some point during the winner-take-all third game of the Super Regional. But the question is whether she starts or comes out of the bullpen.

Jaala Torrence was really good to start the game for the Crimson Tide in Game 2 and Alex Salter is also a solid pitcher for the Crimson Tide, although her ERA of 2.77 is nearly a run higher than Torrance and more than a run higher than Fouts.

It is a similar question to the one that faces Northwestern for Game 3. Four-time All-Big Ten first team pitcher Danielle Williams started Game 1 and came out of the bullpen in Game 2. The workhorse southpaw has been one of the best pitchers in the country the past five years along with Fouts.

Lauren Boyd has been a great No. 2 pitcher to Williams throughout the season, allowing Williams to rest more during the regular season. Williams, who has a 23-2 record on the season, has pitched in just 36 games compared to 49 last season.

Like the Crimson Tide with Fouts, the Wildcats will want Williams on the mound in the game’s biggest moments. But whether that means they start their aces or have them come out of the bullpen remains to be seen.