Shocks @ Cincinnati

[1972Shocker]

Toilet flush. Focus on next year. Go softball (maybe) and tennis for us Shocker fans.

Don't forget Track & Field. They actually have a decent shot at an AAC Outdoor title or two in about 3 weeks. Women's tennis is done for the year, but the Men have a decent shot at an at-large bid to the NCAA Tournament. We'll find out in about 10 days.

Losing Garrett Kocis was a big blow to the Shocker team but not sure all or even most of the current 5-game losing streak can be attributed to his absence. The Shocks were at least somewhat competitive in the 3 losses to Tulane. The were in the first game today with Cincy for 5 innings but after that it was pretty much all Cincy.

Maybe Jace Kaminska can get the Shocks back on track. Presumably he will get the start on Saturday but the Shocks need to figure out how to produce more offense and not sure where that will come from. Also in the 4 game sweep of Houston in Wichita the Shocks made no errors. During the 5 game losing streak they have made 7 errors. This is a team that just has very little margin for error.

[1972Shocker]

Jace Kaminska on the mound in Game 3 for the Shocks.

In the top of the 1st a 2-out walk by Couper Cornblum and a double down the left field line by Corrigan Bartlett put the Shocks on the board.

Jace gives up a lead off bunt single and a two out single to right to put runners at the corners in the bottom of the 1st but gets a ground ball to short to end the inning. Shocks up 1-0.

Shocks put two on in the 2nd on an infield single and a walk but could not get anything done. Cincy down in order in the 2nd.

Nothing doing for either team in the 3rd.

The Shocks tack on a run in the 4th. A lead off double by Ross Cadena, 1 out walk to Cooper Elliott put runners at 1st and 2nd. Derek Shave singled to right and with a throwing error by the Cincy first baseman Cadena scored and Elliott took 3rd. With runners on the corners Andrew Stewart grounded into a inning ending 5-4-3 double play. Jace cruises through the bottom of the 4th. Shocks up 2-0.

Shocks down in order on 6 pitches in the top of the 5th. In the bottom half Cincy put runners on the corners with 1 out but a strike out and hard hit line drive to Conrblum in right got Jace out of the inning unscathed. Jace is at 80 pitches. Might have 2 more innings left in him.

The Shocks down in order on 12 pitches in the top of the 6th. After 2 outs in the bottom half of the 6th Ross Cadena gets his 2nd cather's interference call on the same Cincy batter followed by a single through the 5-6 hole put runner on 1st and 2nd. A line drive single into right scores a run for Cincy with runners on the corners. Jace is done for the day. Ryan Stuempfig on in relief. Ryan gets a fly ball to right to end the Cincy at bat. Shocks lead 2-1 after 6.

Cooper Elliott leads of the 7th with a walk. Derek Shaver interfered with the catcher attempting to throw to second on an Elliott stolen base attempt and is called with Cooper returning to 1st.. Andrew Stewart singled to center with Elliott advancing to 3rd. Jack Sigrist with a line drive to left center for a double scores Elliott and give the Shockers runners at 2nd and 3rd with only 1 out. Seth Stroh strikes out on 3 pitches.and Cooper Cornblum strikes out as well to end the at bat. 2nd time in a close game the Shocks have stranded runners at 3rd with 1 out. Wedge may have add some squeeze bunts to his strategy. Shocks lead 3-1 but should be more.

Stuempfig hits the lead off batter on a 3-2 count, so essentially a walk getting the trying run to the plate. A hard hit drive to deep right but right at Couper Cornblum for out number 1. The next batter hit a ball up the middle but with the runner from 1st running on the pitch Jack Sigrist was covering 2nd and he fielded the ball near the bag at 2nd, stepped on the bag and threw to first of an inning ending double play.

Corrigan Bartlett walks to lead off the Shocker 8th. He gets picked off, breaks for 2nd, then manages to scramble back safely to 1st. On the next pitch Ross Cadena laces a line drive to the wall in left center scoring Bartlett. Paxton Wallace singles through the 5-6 hole into left moving Cadena to 3rd. Cooper Elliott hits a high chop to the pitcher Cadena running on contact (not sure about that ?) but gets away with it when the pitcher throws high to the catcher and Ross was able to slide under the tag attempt. Runners on 1st and 2nd with no outs. Derek Shaver unable to get a bunt down and then strikes out. Andrew Stewart then grounded into his 2nd inning ending double play for the second time in the game. Sheesh. Shocks lead 5-1 but probably should be 7 or 8 to 1.

Aaron Haase on to pitch for the Shocks in the bottom of the 8th. Goes to a full count then gives up a single to the lead off hitter. 2 strikeouts and a pop out to Sigrist in short right ends that Cincy at bat.

In the Shocker half of the 9th Seth Stroh double to right with 1 out. Couper Cornblum singles to left to drive in Strom making it 6-1/ Cornblum then gets picked off and Bartlett grounds out to first unassisted to end the Shocker round.

1st pitch from Haase in the 9th is a can of corn to left for the 1st out. Strikeout for out number 2. A ground out to 3rd ends the game on a nice play by Derek Shaver.

Shocks win 6-1 in a game the needed very badly.

Excellent work by Jace, Ryan and Aaron on the bump.

[SB Shock]

Go Jace! He has been the bright spot and show what the future could be.

[Kung Wu]

HCEW must cancel all future Thursday and Monday games. Those days are cursed!

[Kung Wu]

Oh boy! Maybe this team is just a little bipolar?

[Kung Wu]

Of course, it's not over yet.

[Shocker1976]

Good to see Nicholson strike out

[Shocker1976]

Haase has a good 8th inning - 2 Ks and a pop-up

[Kung Wu]

About to make Shocker history? First win eva in Cincinnasty! Let's go!

Maybe yesterday was just a really bad day?! Maybe we miss Kocis a LOT more than we thought?

[Shocker1976]

Good game by the Shocks 6-1; both hitting and pitching

[Kung Wu]

I don't have answers. I just have questions.

[WuDrWu]

Not a great game, but Jace was really solid and Stumpy and Haase finished what he started. Enough hitting to get a much needed win.

Honestly, given the lineup changes today, anything was possible but 6 straight losses seemed more than likely. Proud of the guys for showing some guts and getting one back on the road.

[Kung Wu]

Maybe road games are hard?

[Kung Wu]

What if we actually split the Cincinnasty road series?!? What would that meeean?

[1972Shocker]

Good call moving the game up to 10:00 AM as the rain was just starting to pick up a little in the bottom of the 9th.

Very well pitched game by the Shocks and did enough offensively to get it done especially late as they scored 4 of their 6 runs in the 7th , 8th and 9th. Still letting too many good scoring opportunities go to waste. For a team with not much power they don't really play small ball very well either.

The did what they had to do and now have chance to get a split tomorrow which would be a great outcome after having looked so bad on Friday.