TUSCALOOSA, Ala. — Midway through the fourth inning of Sunday’s Super Regional final, Alabama softball coach Patrick Murphy approached the pitcher’s mound and had a longer-than-normal conversation with Jaala Torrence.
He’d given her the ball to start for the second consecutive day after 4.1 innings and one run allowed against opponent Northwestern in a 2-1 win the day before. Sunday’s outing was similar: 3.1 innings and one run allowed. With the Crimson Tide leading 2-1, Murphy shared a few words with Torrence.
“Number one, (I said) you did a great job. You did exactly what we wanted you to do,” Murphy said. “And then what I usually say is tell (the reliever) that the score stays the same. That’s the goal of a reliever when they come in, when the ball goes to the next girl the score stays the same. And I guarantee it Jaala said that as she came off the field.”
Her reliever was as uncommon of a candidate you’ll find in the sport, especially in a win-or-go-home postseason situation: three-time All-American Montana Fouts, who also relieved Torrence in the win the day before. Fouts closed the door on Northwestern, surrendering just one run in 3.2 innings for her 100th career win in a 3-2 contest and clinched a Women’s College World Series berth for…
