Shockers at UT Arlington Classic

[1972Shocker]

Mike Steele leaving when he did,didn’t do this team any favors but at this point he looks like a genius bailing on this crap show of a coaching staff.

I don't blame Coach Steele at all for make what I am sure was a decision in his best interest. I'm sure he could read the writing on the wall.

[1972Shocker]

The Shocks have jumped ahead of SFA 6-1 after 4 innings. Liam Eddy deservedly gets a start.

In the bottom of the 1st a lead off single followed by an error by Paxton Wallace at 3rd put runners at 1st and 2nd. After a fly ball to center advanced the runner from 2nd to 3rd SFA cashed in with a single to left to make it 1-0 with runners on 1st and 2nd and one out. A fly ball to center produced the 2nd out but a throwing error by CF Jacob Katzfey allowed the runners to move up to 2nd and 3rd. Liam induced a 4-3 ground out to end the inning.

In the top of the 2nd Mason O'Brien led off the inning with a home run to tie the game at 1-1. Hunter Gibson struck out. Ross Cadena struck out but reached 1st safely on wild ptich on the 3rd strike. Jake Pastiak singled to center advancing Ross to 2nd. Alex Jackson flied out to left for out number 2. Katzfey walked to load the bases. Jordan Boyer singled to left driving in 2 runs with Katzfey holding at 2nd. In infield singled by Luke Ritter to 3rd scored Katzfey from 2nd before Paxton struck out to end the inning but the Shocks were up 4-1.

With 1 out in the 4th Alex singled to center, Jacob singled to right and Jordan was hit by a pitch to load the bases. Luke Ritter was also hit by a pitch to force in Alex from 3rd and leave the bases loaded. Paxton flied out to center scoring Jacob. A walk to Mason reloaded the bases but Hunter flied out to center to end the inning. Shocks go up 6-1.

LIam set down 9 of 10 batters in the 2nd, 3rd and 4th with the only runner reaching on a 2-out error by Jordan at Shortstop in the 2nd.

In the top of the 5th Jake reached on a 1 out single and advanced to 2nd on a throwing error by the pitcher. He advanced to 3rd on a wild pitch. After Alex struck out another wild pitch scored Jake to put the Shocks up 7-1.

In the bottom of the 5th Liam got two quick ground outs on 3 pitchers. But an infield single to SS, followed by a single to left and a single to right score a run for SFA to make it 7-2 after 5.

In the Shocker 6th Jordan leads off with a bloop double to left center, Luke was hit by a pitch and Paxton walked to load the bases with no outs. Mason O'Brien double down the right field line to drive in 2 and Hunter followed that with a 2-run single to right center. Ross Cadena signled to left adcancing Hunter to 2nd still with no outs. Jake flies out to center but Alex walks on a full count to reload the bases for Jacob with 1 out. Jacob hits into a 3-2 fiieder's choice with Hunter forced at 3rd. Jordan hits into a force play at 3rd. The Shocks now lead 11-2.

Liam has only thrown 59 pitchers through 5. Let's see how the long Shocker at bat in the top of the 6th effects him. Liam gives up a lead off walk. Not what you want to do after you team hands you a huge lead. But Liam settles down quickly and retires the next 3 batters. Liam at 83 pitches after 6 innings.

SFA pretty much imploding now as the Shockers add 3 more in the top of the 7th to make it 14-2. Liam is back out in the 7th. Hopefully, a run rule is in place. Liam gives up a 1 out single that that is erased with a double play for quick and painless bottom of the 7th. Apparently there is not a run rule.

Shocks tack on 2 more in the top of the 8th to make it 16-2. Adam Stephenson gets the call to the mound in the 8th. A 2nd consecutive very solid outing by Liam Eddy.

Shocks tack on 2 more in the top of the 9th to maek it 18-2. Connery Peters into to pitch the 9th.

And mercifully it finally ends. Shocks with a laugher 18-2. Big turn around from the 1st 2 games this weekend. Now what qualify of pitching the Shockers saw today is hard to say plus SFA did not exactly play a clean, error free game. But a win of any kind was badly need by the Shocks.

[1972Shocker]

Tommy Barnhouse gets the start in Sunday's game against Texas-Arlington.

Shocks get on the board first in the top of the 2nd. A Hunter Gibson single and Ross Cadena double plates the 1st run. After a ground out by Jake Plastiak moves Ross to 3rd he sccores on a sac fly to center by Alex Jackson.

However, UTA strikes back for 2 runs in the bottom of the 2nd and 2 more in the bottom of the 3rd to knock Tommy out of the game after only 2.1 innings. Cal Carver comes on in relief allowing 1 inherited runner to score before getting out of the inning. Shockers trail 4-2 after 3.

The game remained at 4-2 until the top of the 6th. With two outs UtA opened the door for the Shocks with two walks. That was followed by a Cadena single, a Plastiak double and Jackson single to push 4 runs across the plate with the Shocks taking a 6-4 lead.

The Shockers added 2 more in the top of the 6th on a Jordan Boyer single followed by a Luke Ritter home run to extend the lead to 8-4.

Carver pitched through the 7th allowing only 3 hits and 1 walk with only the 1 inherited runner scoring in his 4.2 innings of work. Alex Segal came on in the 8th in relief of Carver.

Segal struck out the 1st two batters he faced but then walked a batter and hit a batter to put runners at 1st and 2nd. Segal was pulled in favor of Aaron Haase who hit the 1st batter he faced and then gave up a 2-run single to left center to make it 8-6. Haase then hit the next batter to relaod the bases and he was done. Mitchell Walters came on and got an infield pop up to end the inning.

In the top of the 9th the Shockers get a 1-out single but that was erased when Gibson grounded into a 4-6-3 double play.

Walters back out for the 9th. After giving up a lead off single Mitchell got the next 3 batters and the Shockers get the win by a final score of 8-6. Cal Culver deservedly gets the win and Mitchell Walters picks up a save. Luke Ritter's 7th inning 2-run home run proves to be the difference. The Shocks move to 3-5 on the season.

Not a great week-end against this level of competition but could have been much worse after starting 0-2.

[SB Shock]

WSU wins 8-6 and their 2nd game of the weekend with a OF diving catch in the 9th.

[shockfan89_]

Did we really just have a WSU baseball game with only one post? Hopefully ADDB is aware, and understands that is a very dangerous level of apathy towards a once great program. Very sad.

[1972Shocker]

Here is one guy the Shocks will truly miss next year:
Ritter Honored by The American

PROVIDENCE, R.I. – Wichita State baseball senior infielder Luke Ritter was named to the American Athletic Conference's Weekly Honor Roll for his performance on the field the week of Feb. 18-24, it was announced on Monday, Feb. 25. It's the fourth career weekly honor roll appearance for the Overland Park, Kan., native.

Ritter led the Shockers in four games in the UT Arlington Classic Feb. 22-24 in Arlington, Texas, hitting .471 with eight hits in 17 at bats. He tallied six RBI, five runs, three walks, a double and hit his team-best second home run of the season in WSU's four contests.

The senior also posted an impressive .706 slugging and .591 on-base percentage on the weekend, and had a pair of three-hit games.

Ritter is riding a four-game hitting streak and eight-game reached base safely streak. Including 12 games from 2018, he has gotten on-base in 20 straight games.

https://goshockers.com/news/2019/2/25/baseball-ritter-honored-by-the-american.aspx

[ShockerFever]

Did we really just have a WSU baseball game with only one post? Hopefully ADDB is aware, and understands that is a very dangerous level of apathy towards a once great program. Very sad.

And only 6 games in.

If the AD is just now recognizing apathy in the program, then the AD hasn't been to the ball park in the last 5 years.