Montana Fouts is great again. Alabama’s fifth-year starter struck out 14 in a perfect six-inning game in an 8-0 win over Longwood on Sunday.
The Crimson Tide scored four runs in the bottom of the sixth as Fouts pitched her first perfect game since the 2021 Women’s College World Series, pitching a 14-hit, seven-inning effort in a 6-0 win over No. 2 UCLA.
Texas went 6-0 last week and extended its winning streak to nine games as the Longhorns seek their second WCWS appearance.
Here are the schools ranked in the ESPN.com/USA Softball Collegiate Top 25 poll (March 6 games):
1. Oklahoma, 17-1 (25 first-place votes)
2. UCLA, 22-1
3. Oklahoma State, 18-1
4. Clemson, 20-1
5. Tennessee, 16-1
6. Florida State, 20-3
7. Arkansas, 19-3
8. Stanford, 19-2
9. Alabama, 17-3
10. Texas, 17-2-1
11. Washington, 18-3
12. Florida, 14-3
13. Virginia Tech, 14-4
14. LSU, 20-1
15. Duke, 17-4
T-16. Kentucky, 12-5-1
T-16. Baylor, 17-2
18. Georgia, 17-5
19. Oregon, 16-4
20. Arizona, 15-6
21. Purple, 20-2
22. Northwestern, 9-7
23. Missouri, 15-6
T-24. Louisiana, 13-8
T-24. Arizona State, 15-3
Last week’s key game: Baylor 2, Texas A&M 1 (8). A day after Texas A&M’s Emily Kennedy was no-hit against the Bears, Baylor got revenge in an eight-inning thriller. Amber Toven had two shutouts and one walk in the middle to lead the Bears to a win over their ranked opponents.
Marquee game to watch: Florida State-Oklahoma State (Friday, 7 p.m. ET, ESPN+). Those top five teams will meet for a three-game series starting Friday. The Cowgirls’ Kelly Maxwell is one of the nation’s leaders in strikeouts per seven innings, and the Seminoles’ Kathryn Sandercock anchors a pitching staff that hasn’t given up more than two runs in nine games.
Player to watch: NiJaree Canady, Stanford. The freshman Canadian has not allowed a run in 44 innings so far this season, and he showed even more of his dominance over the weekend. He had 18 strikeouts in seven games against Villanova on Friday, the second most he has thrown so far this season.
Game of the Week: Clemson is 20-1 on the season, thanks to timely hitting, strong pitching and excellent defense — like Aaliyah Logoleo’s diving snub.
How about a shoulder dip on a Saturday afternoon? What a horror @alialogoleo#NCAASoftball x 🎥 ACCNX / @clemsonsoftballpic.twitter.com/C2QNP7XRhW
— NCAA Softball (@NCAASoftball) March 4, 2023
