Patrick Murphy Provides Update on Lexi Kilfoyl as Alabama Begins Tuscaloosa Regional

TUSCALOOSA, Ala. — The phrase “day-by-day” has been Patrick Murphy’s mantra when addressing the standing of beginning pitcher Lexi Kilfoyl. Starting Friday, Alabama’s softball season took on an identical timeline. So what does that imply for the Crimson Tide’s No. 2 choice within the circle?

Whereas Murphy’s not fairly sticking to the corporate line, he is nonetheless not prepared to offer a particular reply shifting ahead. 

“It’s very as much as her, the physician and the athletic coach,” Murphy mentioned of Kilfoyl following Alabama’s 3-0 victory over Chattanooga to open the Tuscaloosa Regional. “If she feels adequate to do it, she’ll do it. She pitched this week in apply too, so it’s totally encouraging to see that.” 

Kilfoyl, who’s battling hip and foot accidents, hasn’t made an look for Alabama since an April 23 sport the place she gave up seven earned runs on 5 hits over 1⅓ innings in a 9-1 loss to the Aggies. The junior is 9-3 with a 2.36 earned-run common and has 79 strikeouts over 80 innings pitched this season. 4 of her wins have come towards top-10 opponents.

Redshirt freshman Alex Salter obtained the beginning throughout Alabama’s match opener towards Chattanooga on Friday however gave approach to Montana Fouts within the prime of the fourth inning after permitting two runners to achieve base with one out with the sport nonetheless scoreless.

Fouts picked up the win, hanging out the following two batters to get out of the jam earlier than finishing the sport with 3⅓ scoreless innings. Whereas the Chattanooga bats mustered simply three hits off the Alabama ace, they compelled her to throw 54 pitches on a day the Crimson Tide would have most popular to relaxation her for later within the match.

“Clearly, we had been hoping to not use Montana, however it’s 0-0 and we have no hits and so they have 4. And with first and second, I wasn’t going to take that likelihood,” Murphy mentioned of his determination to make use of Fouts. “It is a good win to start out the regional, and we’re simply hoping to get higher each sport.”

Alabama strikes on within the winner’s bracket and can face both No. 2 Stanford or No. 3 Murray State on Saturday at 2 p.m. CT.

Sometimes, Murphy would have his option to deploy both Kilfoyl or Fouts for the matchup whereas saving the opposite to supply a special search for a possible rematch within the championship sequence if the Crimson Tide was capable of stay unbeaten. If Kilfoyl is unable to go this weekend, the heavy lifting will doubtless fall to Fouts, who has been the go-to choice in current weeks. 

If that is the case, Murphy says he has complete confidence within the senior to get the job carried out. 

“She’s obtained loads of gasoline left,” he mentioned. 

Fouts, a member of Crew USA, is 23-6 on the yr with a 1.89 earned run common. She leads the SEC with 266 strikeouts over 170 innings pitched this season. 

“She’s actually gritty, and I feel that is what makes her actually dominant as a pitcher,” catcher Ally Shipman mentioned of Fouts. “Even when she looks like she’s not her greatest along with her stuff that day, she’s going to outwork you and out-grit you, and I feel that is what she did as we speak.” 

Gallery: Lexi Kilfoyl