Montana Fouts on her hyperextended knee: Pain is temporary

Montana Fouts hyperextended her knee against Arkansas in the SEC Tournament, leaving her out of the circle for a short period of time. She was able to return during Alabama‘s Super Regional victories against Northwestern and was back to her normal self. A huge boost to the Crimson Tide as they advanced to the Women’s College World Series.

Head coach Patrick Murphy has not fully revealed the pitching plan for Oklahoma City but Fouts is expected to be available. When speaking on Wednesday, she admitted there is still some pain in her left knee. But it’s not going to stop her from competing and helping Alabama bring another national championship back home.

“Pain is temporary,” Fouts said via Tony Tsoukalas. “I’ll feel that some other day.”

Fouts pitched in all three games against Northwestern, going for 9.2 innings. A total of three runs crossed home plate when Fouts was out there, with two coming during Game 1. Her efforts throughout the final two games, resulting in Alabama wins, are a huge reason why they are in Oklahoma City this weekend.

Tennessee will be the first team up, with first pitch scheduled for 11 a.m. CT on Thursday afternoon. Fouts is likely to make an appearance and was taking a bullpen session on Wednesday to prepare herself.

Montana Fouts taking a bullpen session pic.twitter.com/cOS76m5W1D

— Tony Tsoukalas (@Tony_Tsoukalas) May 31, 2023

If Fouts is going to deal with the injury, it will come after the season is complete. Rehab was done during her absence in Birmingham to get her back on the field. But for now, Fouts is going to fight through the pain and attempt to bring national championship No. 2 back — for the program — to Tuscaloosa.

Patrick Murphy has complete faith in Montana Fouts

Fouts has been the lifeblood of the Alabama program for the past few years. After Alabama did not make it out of a regional last season, she decided to return for another season. Leaving behind the Crimson Tide without a successful story was not something Fouts was interested in.

After everything she has pulled off this season, Murphy would not be shocked to see Fouts perform well in Oklahoma City. After all, she had done unthinkable things over the past few days following her injury. But now, she’s on college softball’s biggest stage.

“She’s kind of reinvented herself this year and I would not put anything past her in terms of what she’s gonna do up in Oklahoma City.”