Alabama Softball Celebrates Ally Shipman Even More than First SEC Win

TUSCALOOSA, Ala. — Montana Fouts didn't feel like she had her best stuff on Saturday.

But she was very happy that it was more than enough to get the win on her catcher's Senior Day for the Alabama softball team. 

The senior ace threw a two-hitter with eight strikeouts and no walks as the Crimson Tide opened Southeastern Conference play with a 2-0 victory over Arkansas. 

In the process, the program gave a "thank you" back to Shipman, who had been a mainstay both behind the plate and in the batting order as she's hitting .305 on the season. 

"Ship was making me look good back there," said Fouts, who improved to 11-3, and her ERA drop to 1.46. "I don't know if you saw her almost break her thumb for me out there. 

"She's just been a light to our program."

The thumb in question came on a ball that Shipman was determined to catch, but couldn't quite reach. It probably stung even more considering that the temperature at the start of the game was 54 degrees with a stiff wind blowing in. 

Nevertheless, 3,940 fans, many in winter coats, showed up to celebrate Shipman and the Crimson Tide's league opener. 

"It was incredible," she said. "The love, the support from everybody, the girls, the support staff, every single person here was awesome.

"It was the Senior Day of a lifetime."

The shutout was the 28th of Montana Fouts’ career, moving her into a third-place tie with Alexis Osorio (2015-18) on the Alabama career rankings. 

With eight strikeouts tonight, Fouts is 36 shy of tying fourth-place Shelley Laird on the Alabama career rankings with 1,045.

“This was a big win for us, especially with eight newcomers on the team that have never been in this kind of atmosphere at home," head coach Patrick Murphy said. "You give Fouts the ball and she does what she does, and we were able to scratch a couple of runs across and our defense played great. 

"The formula for SEC play is you have to get a good start from your pitching, you have to play great defense and then you hope for a key hit."

Junior Bailey Dowling and senior Jenna Johnson provide those key hits as Alabama pushed across runs in the second and fourth innings. Johnson went 3-for-3 with an RBI, to tie her career high for hits.

They also helped set an important tone for the series, as Alabama outhit the visiting team 5-2. Sunday (5 p.m.) will be the rematch, with the final game Monday (6 p.m.), when Fouts is slated to start again. 

But this day was about the battery, even though it didn't feel like it had it's best day. 

"I know," Murphy said with a shrug. "Hey, I can't wait for Monday night if that's the case."