Wichita State vs Valparaiso (3 Game Series)

[wyatt]

Quick three outs in the 8th. 3-2 bottom of 8.

[Dave Stalwart]

Would be nice to get up to/above .500 prior to conference play.

[LandStander]

Another exciting 9th

[Shockers5150]

Little bouncy hit double. Urg.

[Shockers5150]

Throw freaking strikes

[Shockers5150]

Nice.
W

[wyatt]

Good win, I believe that we didn't get a hit after the 4th inning. Still struggling there, but pitching was good enough again today.

[Play Angry]

Good job by Barnhouse and the bullpen today. Hitting still stuck in the mud.

[1972Shocker]

Seems like the Shocks have found a soul mate in Valparaiso. Two evenly matched teams both of whom struggle a bit to score runs.

So far the bats haven't exactly broken out in this series but the Shocks have ony struck out 8 times in 2 games which is a big improvement over what we had been seeing. OTOH, Valpo hasn't exactly been running out a bunch of flame throwers.

Shock need to take care of business tomorrow and finish off the sweep.

[1972Shocker]

From the Eagle Game Report

WSU didn’t have a hit for its final 16 batters of the game, but the early innings gave a glimpse of a small-ball approach with bunting and a hit-and-run play that contributed to scoring.

“You can see we’ve got a little more athleticism with Katzfey, Jackson, the freshmen,” Butler said. “They can do a lot of things, they can bunt and run. It kind of gives us a little bit of freedom to do some things offensively, and I think that’s what we’re going to have to do.”

Read more here: http://www.kansas.com/sports/college...#storylink=cpy

I will say that once the weather warms up and we more South winds we should start to see more balls getting out of the park. Alec Bohm seems to be squaring up balls more consistently and some of his long outs won't be caught under better conditions. Of course, this could be true for the opposition as well.

[1972Shocker]

I think the Shockers will finish off the sweep of Valpo with a bit easier win than they did in Games 1 and 2. I have no idea why I am making that statement because so far the Shocks have not shown much indication that they have that capability. I guess because they are due and Valpo is not a particularly scary team.

The Shocks haven't exactly bashed Valpo pitching so far. They have raised the team batting average from 0.235 to 0.236 so at least the trend is in the right direction. :wink-new:

BTW, this is by far the worst team batting average among Valley teams. The Shocks are also last in On Base Average, Slugging %, Runs scored, RBI's, Home Runs, and Sacrifice Flies.

The Shocks team ERA has dropped to 4.11 which has to be worth a big Atta Boy for Coach Steele. That's good for 3rd best in the Vallley just 0.03 behind DBU. MSU is at 2.65 in ERA.

The Shocks defense has been pretty solid as well with a .976 fielding percentage.

[ShockTalk]

I think the Shockers will finish off the sweep of Valpo with a bit easier win than they did in Games 1 and 2. I have no idea why I am making that statement because so far the Shocks have not shown much indication that they have that capability. I guess because they are due and Valpo is not a particularly scary team.

The Shocks haven't exactly bashed Valpo pitching so far. They have raised the team batting average from 0.235 to 0.236 so at least the trend is in the right direction. :wink-new:

The Shocks team ERA has dropped to 4.11 which has to be worth a big Atta Boy for Coach Steele.

I would like to be "glass half full", but I believe we are playing a team that is much the same level as us (that's not a compliment). Close scores and at home. Had we been on the road, the outcomes so far may have not been in our favor. There is also Valpo's grueling road schedule of having no home games yet this season.

[1972Shocker]

I would like to be "glass half full", but I believe we are playing a team that is much the same level as us (that's not a compliment). Close scores and at home. Had we been on the road, the outcomes so far may have not been in our favor. There is also Valpo's grueling road schedule of having no home games yet this season.

All very excellent points. As I said the Shocks haven't given me any reason I should expect anything different today. Just a gut feeling. Might be a bit of indigestion.

I guess it doesn't really make a lot of difference how you win as long as you win. They all count the same. However, the way the Shocks are playing right now they have very little, if any, margin for error. And you're right they could have easily lost the first two games against Valpo.

[SB Shock]

I would like to be "glass half full", but I believe we are playing a team that is much the same level as us (that's not a compliment). Close scores and at home. Had we been on the road, the outcomes so far may have not been in our favor. There is also Valpo's grueling road schedule of having no home games yet this season.

I agree. Winning 1-run games says you are 50-50 team against that opponent you are playing against. In the case RPI 100ish team. That is what WSU is mid-100's program. WSU offense is 227th in the nation in scoring. That not going to win games if you want to be NCAA tournament caliber team.

[shocks02]

Nice play in left by Katzfey. 2-1 shox, middle 5.