Softball America turned heads Monday morning when it named Alabama ace Montana Fouts as its 2023 NCAA Pitcher of the Year.

Fouts, who was a four-time All-American for the Crimson Tide, won 100 games at Alabama during her college softball career. This year, she posted a 25-11 record with a 1.49 ERA and 323 strikeouts.

Nearly a week ago Fouts won the Honda Sport Award from the Collegiate Women’s Sports Awards, the first softball recipient of the award in Alabama’s history.

Fouts and the Crimson Tide early this month saw their season end against Stanford Cardinal, 2-0. Alabama left the Women’s College World Series after losses to Tennessee and Stanford. She had an emotional reaction at the end of the season.

Fouts suffered a leg injury, but returned to the circle to close out the Super Regionals in front of Alabama’s home crowd.

She finished her career with the Crimson Tide ranked second in program history in strikeouts (1,181), third in shutouts (35), fourth in wins (100) and complete games (89) and fifth in ERA (1.66).

Here’s a sample of the mixed reaction to the honor: