Shocker SB Hosts UCF - AAC Title in Play

[1972Shocker]

I will leave it to flyingMoose to add his usual pregame overview and scouting report.

RH: "Totally Different Styles of Play"

https://goshockers.com/news/2022/5/4...s-of-play.aspx

No. 15 UCF (42-11, 14-1) leads the conference standings by one game over No. 25 Wichita State (31-13, 13-2). The Shockers, on an 11-game win streak, must win at least two of three to tie the Knights for the regular-season title and claim top seed in the tournament. The Shockers also need wins to boost their NCAA at-large chances.

Similar success. Contrasting geography.

"We've surprised a lot of people with the thought that when we moved into this league that we would be one of the teams that would be at the top, because we're from Kansas," Bredbenner said. "Most of the schools are from the South and warm climates. Great players in droves that surround their schools. We're just this ragtag team from Kansas that are all Oklahoma, Texas and Nebraska kids."

Similar success. Contrasting ways to get there.

"Totally different styles of play," Bredbenner said. "They're trying to put the ball in play and get to a couple of kids that can hit the long ball. It's speed."

The Knights rely on hitting all over the field, running and pitching.

They rank second in the conference with a 2.16 earned run average and second in batting average at .299. With a conference-leading 207 walks, UCF ranks second with a .401 on-base percentage. UCF's 64 doubles are tied for third and their 81 steals are second. UCF has 33 home runs, third in the American.

The Shockers lead the American with a .354 batting average, a .441 on-base percentage, 109 home runs and 74 doubles. Wichita State's earned run average of 4.12 is fourth in the conference.

Both teams pitch even better in conference play – UCF boasts a 0.88 ERA in 15 games with Wichita State at 3.00 in 14.

[WuDrWu]

ECU? Am I seeing things?

[1972Shocker]

ECU? Am I seeing things?

Yes, you are. I don't see any ECU.

Thanks for the quick catch.

[WuDrWu]

I figured it was my eyes. I'm way overdue for a trip to Grene Vision.

[flyingMoose]

Here it is!!

Again, conference stats only.

UCF hitting is lead by Justene Molina (OPS of 1.097) , Kennedy Searcy (1.055 and three of the eight UCF conference homers), and Jada Cody (.939). Molina and Cody both have two homers. UCF are 23/25 in stolen base attempts.

The pitching for the Knights (all but one start) belongs to Gianna Macha (ERA of 0.63 and WHIP of 0.71) and Kama Woodall (0.97 and 0.81). Very, very nice numbers. Of course, you could easily point out there is one team that staff has yet to face.

The Shocker pitching is showing better numbers. In the starting order from last weekend: Erin (2.88 and 1.24), Caitlin (4.36 and 1.57), and Alison (1.71 and 1.35).

Hitters for the Shocks above an OPS of 1.000 are Addison (1.989 and 15 homers), Lolo (1.439 and seven homers), Jessica (1.411), Zoe (1.398 and nine homers), Neleigh (1.382), Lauren (1.316), and Sydney (1.178).

The games are Friday at 6 pm, Saturday at 1 pm, and Sunday at noon.

This should be a fun weekend - and I may miss all of it. :(

[1972Shocker]

https://goshockers.evenue.net/cgi-bi...paign=tailgate

Each tailgate ticket redeemable for one meal (two proteins, chips, & a drink). Tailgate begins at 12 PM-located on the grass between Eck and Wilkins Stadium.

[1972Shocker]

The games are Friday at 6 pm, Saturday at 1 pm, and Sunday at noon.

This should be a fun weekend - and I may miss all of it. :(

I assume either Saturday or Sunday will be Senior Day.

4 Shocker players will be finishing up their Shocker careers this season with this weekend being their final appearances at home.

Neleigh Herring, who has raised her average from .300 to .339 over the past 8 games is finishing off her time as a Shocker with a flurry. Let's hope she can stay hot. Neleigh was first team All-AAC honoree last year and may be well on her way to repeating those honors, especially if she continues at her current pace. Neleigh was a Seniro CLASS Award candidate this year. Neleigh has been a member of some of the Shockers most successful teams in school history.

Wylie Glover, who left Valley Center to play at Marshall for 1 year before returning home had been a solid role player for the Shocks. She has done a great job this season stepping into the starting lineup in place of Bailey Urban after she went down with a season ending knee injury.

Caitlyn Bingham and Erin McDonald. Entered this season with a lot of pressure to carry the Shocks pitching staff this year. Got of to a somewhat shaky start but both has seemed to have found their games lately and they will both be big factors as to whether or not the Shocks can win the series vs UCF and hopefully make it to the NCAA Tournament.

As for their majors: Caitlyn - Biomedical Engineering; Wylie - Business Management; Neleigh - Business; Erin - Health Management. All are very good students.

The 2022 Shocker Softball STUDENT-Athlete Senior Class. Well done ladies.

[SubGod22]

They've all been fantastic representatives of this university and hope they go out with a bang this weekend!

[shoxlax]

Neleigh kind of gets overshadowed by the two super humans but where would we have been the last two years without her?

[1972Shocker]

Neleigh kind of gets overshadowed by the two super humans but where would we have been the last two years without her?

Agreed. Here are some of Neleigh's career numbers as of today (and where she ranks all-time at Wichita State):

Batting Average: .340 (7th)
Slugging Percentage: .635 (4th)
On Base Percentage: .468 (2nd - Sydney is currently 1st at .473) Neleigh walks much more and gets hit by pitches much more than Sydney does.
Home Runs: 34 (5th)
Runs Batted In: 124 (T-6th)
Base on Balls: 82 (8th)

Neleigh will definitely move into the All-Time Top 10 in total bases this year. She only needs 2 more. I think she will fall just a little short of the Top 10 in runs scored.

I would note that Neleigh is also well short of the Top 10 in number of games played in her career so some of her numbers on a per game average might rank even higher than the total numbers do.

As a 6-foot first baseman you are probably not too surprised that Neleigh doesn't steal a lot of bases. But she did steal a base earlier this season and is now a perfect 1-1 in her career. However, despite not exactly being a speed merchant Neleigh has hit into only 1 double play in her career.

I think I have these numbers correct. What these numbers do not measure however is the intangibles such as leadership that Neleigh contributes. I think she has been particularly strong as a leader over the last 2 years. I am not sure if the Shocker's designate a team captain or captains or not but if they do I'm guessing Neleigh fills that role.

I really thought Addison would find that repeating her numbers from last year would be very difficult with losing Madison Perrigan and Ryleigh Buck batting behind her although we would have Neleigh back. But Neleigh, Zoe Jones and Lauren Lucas have more than provided Addison with all the protection she needs. Not to mention that the team has been quite successful while Neleigh has been at Wichita State.

A really nice career and legacy for Neleigh.

[shoxlax]

Bracketology:

https://247sports.com/college/oklaho...187143537/Amp/

[WuDrWu]

I sure hope the AAC gets 3 in before the SEC gets 12, including 6 hosts.





EDIT: Texas A&M is 5-16 in conference and just lost 2 straight to Houston midweek. I will eat my shoe if they get an at large.

[1972Shocker]

Game One



The Freshman getting the call in the circle. I think a big key for the Shocker pitchers this weekend will be to avoid free passes. The defense needs to be solid as well. With the way UCF likes to run and play small ball the Shocks need to make sure they earn all of the base runners.

Runs will be much harder to come by for the Shocks this weekend then they have been recently.

The game is a sell-out per Steve Strain. Attendance announced at 803. Largest crowd of the season.

[1972Shocker]

1st Inning

Alison gets a groundball out to short but then gives up a 4-pitch walk and none of the pitches were close. That was followed by a double down the line in left. A ground ball to a drawn in Krystin Nelson at 3rd, who looked the runner at 3rd back and got the out at 1st gets out #2. Alison gets a strikeout looking on a 2-2 changeup. Maybe got a bit of a wide corner on the left side of the plate on that one.

I think this ump may be tough on the hitters. Has a wide zone on outside corner to both righties and lefties. Mancha, as expected in the circle for UCF. Shocks go down in order with Sydney and Addison striking out.

Scoreless after 1 and the Shocks very fortunate that is the case.

2nd Inning

Alison sets UCF down in order. 3 nice defensive plays by Alison, Sydney and Krystin.

Mancha walks 2 after getting the 1st 2 but Lainee struck out on a pitch up and in that was clearly a ball.

So far I would say UCF has had better swings.

3rd Inning

Alison walks the #9 hitter in the order leading off. A major no-no. A line single right that just did get by Zoe puts runners at 1st and 2nd. A well-executed sac bunt moves the runners up a base. A single through the 5-6 hole drives in both runners. After a fly ball out to left a wild pitch moves the runner to 2nd. A 2-out ground single up the middle makes it 3-0. A line drive opposite field triple to left enter makes it 4-0. And Alison is done. Erin McDonald is in to pitch. A shallow fly to left ends the UCF at bat. But a 4-0 deficit against Mancha will be very difficult to overcome.

Sydney reached on a 1-out infield single for the Shocks 1st hit. With 2 outs Lauren flied out to the warning track just left of center. UCF leads 4-0.

4th Inning

Erin gets the 1st two batters but an infield single, a 4-pitch walk and a wild pitch puts runners at 2nd and 3rd. A shallow fly to left is caught by a well positioned Wylie Glover.

Neleigh draws a 1-out walk, Krystin singles to right. Neliegh to 3rd and Krystin to 2nd as the RF mishandles the bounce. Lainee fell behind in the count, fouled off 4 or 5 two strike pitches then struck out on at pitch above her shoulders. UCF still leading 4-0.

5th Inning

Erin sets UCF down in order.

A 1-out single to center by Sydney and back-to-back walks to Addison and Lauren loads the bases with 1 out. UCF brings in Kama Woodall to pitch. Zoe bounces back to the pitcher and UCF gets the force at home. Neleigh picks up Zoe with a high fly ball off the bottom of the scoreboard in left for a game tying grand slam. Possibly the biggest hit of Neleigh's career. It did not get out by a lot but it was enough. Jessica strikes out looking. But the Shocks have tied it up at 4-all.

6th Inning

Erin pitches around a 2-out error by Zoe at 2nd to get the Shocks back up to the plate with the game still tied.

7-8-9 hitters due up for the Shocks. A 4-pitch walk puts Krystin on 1st leading off. Lainee laid down a nice sac bunt but the 3rd baseman went to 2nd trying to force Krystin. They might have had her but the UCF 2nd baseman caught the ball in front of the base. A sac bunt attempt by Wylie was mishandled by the pitcher and the bases are loaded with no outs. Sydney works the count to 3-2 and takes ball 4 on a pitch right at the top of the strike zone fprcomg om tje go ahead run. Addison falls behind 0-2. Fouls off several ptiches. After a waste pitch Addie pokes a pitch on the outer half at the knees up the middle for a 2-run single. UCF making another pitching change with the Shocks leading 7-4. Actually on looking at the replay that pitch was on the chalk in the lefthanders batter's box. Great at bat for Addison who had not looked very good tonight until that point. Lauren lays down a sac bunt to move the runners to 2nd and 3rd. Zoe falls behind in the count 1-2 and then she pokes an outside pitch into short right to score Sydney and move Addison to 3rd. Addison had to hold up to make sure the ball was not caught. Neleigh gournds to 1st who goes to home getting Addison on a close play. Jessica gets hit by a pitch to reload the bases with 2 outs bringing Krystin back to the plate for the 2nd time in the inning. UCF bring in their 4 their 4th pticher of the game. Lolo is going to pinch hit for Krystin to try to lock this one up. Believe it or not a home run here by Lolo would end the game.

See below for what happens.

[shoxlax]

Ugh.