This story has been updated from a previous version.
To the average person, softball is a close relative of baseball, not a distant one. Aside from the lack of grass on the infield, the absence of a mound, the different style of pitching and a larger ball, how much difference is there, really?
That question rings true for plenty of people — until an injury occurs to a prominent softball pitcher.
Pitcher injuries are common in baseball, but pitcher usage is also much different than in softball. Rarely will a starting pitcher — who won't typically be seen for another five days — start and finish the same game, thus diminishing their importance. Softball doesn't have that luxury. A team's best pitcher is almost always inside the chalk circle, so an injury can present a major problem.
And that's exactly what Alabama is encountering as it begins its quest for a Women's College World Series championship. The No. 5 overall seed in the tournament might be without its ace for the foreseeable future.
MORE: NCAA softball tournament regional bracket, TV schedule
Here is the latest on the injury to Crimson Tide star pitcher Montana Fouts:
Montana Fouts injury update
Fouts is considered day to day with a hyperextended left knee, according to Alabama coach Patrick Murphy.
"It's really, truly day to day," Murphy told Tuscaloosa radio station WFMA. "That's about it, really. Wish I could tell you more."
Fouts visited an orthopedist on Monday. Murphy said Thursday that the pitcher is undergoing physical therapy.
Patrick Murphy confirms that Montana Fouts is still day-to-day but shares her importance to the team as she’ll work to get back to full strength.
— Kari Osep (@KariOsep) May 18, 2023
Murph also says that the decision to return is up to her depending on physical therapy and three tests she has to complete. pic.twitter.com/Mq8voupO7s
Junior Jaala Torrence started the Tide's NCAA regional opener against LIU, striking out five in a 5-0 victory that went down as her first career complete game. Sophomore Alex Salter took the ball Saturday against Middle Tennessee and was roughed up a bit, allowing four runs in 2.1 innings before Torrence relieved her and held the Blue Raiders to one hit the rest of the way as Alabama advanced to the championship game.
Murphy said Fouts threw a bullpen session Friday but her status for the rest of the weekend is unclear. Lefty Lauren Esman got the start against MTSU on Sunday and took the loss before Torrence returned in the regional final against the Blue Raiders with seven more shutout innings to help the Tide advance.
Murphy said after Sunday's elimination game that Fouts was available to play vs. Middle Tennessee after she was cleared by Dr. Lyle Cain, Alabama's team orthopedic surgeon, earlier in the day.
"You don’t want this to be Montana’s last opportunity," Murphy said after the game. "Thankfully, both (Ally Shipman and Jaala Torrence) pulled through and she can keep rehabbing and doing what she needs to do for next weekend."
Murphy provided an update on Thursday, saying Fouts will be available to pitch this week during the super regionals.
"She was very excited. She FaceTimed me this morning and has gone over to see Dr. Cain again and the (physical therapist), and they both are working overtime," Murphy said (via Rivals.com). "I don’t want to possibly say miracles, but they’ve been doing great. So that was the most excited I have heard her or seen her.
"So hopefully she’s coming back from Birmingham with our athletic trainer and probably will throw today in the bullpen. She threw yesterday and as the days have gone along, it’s gotten better and better."
What happened to Montana Fouts?
The Alabama ace was injured as she struck out Arkansas' Raigan Johnson for the second out of the seventh inning on May 11. She tried to stay in the game but could not continue.
Montana Fouts left the field with an apparent leg injury.
— espnW (@espnW) May 12, 2023
(via @SECNetwork) pic.twitter.com/gff2028kab
"You could see when she landed, it locked down a little bit," Murphy told WFMA. "It surprised her, obviously. You could tell when she tried again, it hurt. It’s not, we really haven’t had something like that, but the doctors have all seen it in every other sport. So that kind of reassured me this isn’t like a one-in-a-million thing. It’s happened in other sports."
MORE: Who is Montana Fouts? Alabama pitcher perfect at 2021 WCWS
Montana Fouts stats
Fouts has been a workhorse for the Crimson Tide in 2023. She owns a 23-9 record with 311 strikeouts (to 39 walks) and a 1.44 ERA in 213 1/3 innings pitched. She has appeared in 40 games (29 starts) and pitched 23 complete games. Opponents are batting .165 against her.
Alabama has played 394 2/3 innings total this season, so Fouts's numbers show just how important she is to the team. Salter, Torrence and Esman have combined for a 2.66 ERA in 181 1/3 innings pitched.
