BIRMINGHAM, Ala. – Alabama freshman Montana Fouts has earned a program-record fourth SEC Freshman of the Week award, it was announced Monday.

The rookie right-hander is the first player in program history to earn four Freshman of the Week awards, surpassing the previous record of three set by Kayla Braud (2010) and Charlotte Morgan (2007).

Fouts helped the Crimson Tide claim its sixth SEC regular-season championship this past weekend on the road against LSU, throwing 9.0 scoreless innings over a pair of appearances. On Friday, she threw a complete-game shutout, holding the Tigers' offense scoreless for just the second time this season. With sole possession of an SEC title on the line on Saturday, she entered in relief and retired all six batters she faced for her fifth save of the season.

This is Fouts' fifth overall weekly conference award this year, winning SEC Pitcher of the Week honors on April 23 in addition to her three previous Freshman of the Week awards. Alabama has claimed 23 SEC Freshman of the Week awards in program history and this is the seventh weekly accolade of the season for the Tide, its most since 2012.

This week, Alabama begins postseason play at the 2019 SEC Softball Tournament in College Station, Texas. The Crimson Tide enter as the No. 1 seed, opening action Thursday, May 9 at 4 p.m. CT against the winner of Wednesday's Georgia vs. Arkansas game.

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