Shocker SB at San Diego State

[flyingMoose]

The Shockers travel to California to play San Diego State on Thursday before a weekend tournament hosted by University of San Diego that starts Friday. The Shockers are RV/-- in this week's polls and SDS are RV/RV.

The Aztecs are picked for second place in the Mountain West Conference, just one point behind Boise State, a Shocker opponent in the weekend tournament. SDS and Boise State shared all nine first-place votes. Their coach is Olympian Stacy Nuveman. Mac Barbara is one of fifty players on the POY watch list. Of course, Sydney and Addison are also on that list as well as Jessica Mullins of Texas State.

The Aztecs return three pitchers led by Dee Dee Hernandez. They all pitched at least 50 innings last year and had 25 starts between them. Last year, Barbara had an OPS of 1.295 with 18 homers. The Aztecs were 4-1 this past weekend with their only loss to 22/RV Arizona State. Memphis was one of their victims, 7-1. Hernandez and Dani Martinez had the best numbers in the circle. AJ Murphy had an OPS of 1.386 to lead the hitting.

LaurenL (1.860) and Sydney (1.733) are the early OPS leaders for the Shocks. Alison (ERA of 1.00 and WHIP of 1.29) and Alex (1.27 and 0.91) have nice early numbers with LaurenH not far behind (3.00 and 1.43).

San Diego State has a YouTube channel for their softball games. Click on Subscribe and you are in.

[flyingMoose]

Maybe I will get back in time, or maybe I will be a hair late. Somebody go with it if you want.

[flyingMoose]

Lineup: First Five, Taylor, Lainee, Krystin 3B with Zoe at 1B, Sami. Alison is in the circle. Allie Light, #4 on their list with only 3.2 innings, is pitching for the Aztecs.

Sydney leads off the game with second-pitch single. After a fielder's choice, both Lauren and Zoe are caught looking.

No SDS YouTube live stream. And probably, I don't know how to "see" it.

Just checked the umpires for the game. This is a very, very strong crew. NCAA Championships calibre.

After a ground out, a walk and a single and the Aztecs have a threat. A force at second puts runners on the corners, but Alison gets a fly out after a stolen base to end the inning. No score after one.

[shocks02]

Anybody else able to find the live stream?

[WuDrWu]

No.

[flyingMoose]

Lolo open sthe second with a single, but Light strikes out the next three for a total of five over the first two innings. Again, the bottom of the order struggles for the Shocks.

A leadoff single for SDS is followed by two force outs. Then the Aztecs double home the first run of the game. After a bunt single, a double steal scores another run. An infield single scores the runner from second. Aztecs, 3-0 after two.

[shocks02]

Five strikeouts in two innings. That’s more than a game’s worth.

[OSShock]

Bottom of lineup 3k's

[shocks02]

Stream is up now on YouTube

[flyingMoose]

Sydney gets a run back in the top of the third with a homer. A two-out single for SDS but nothing more. 1-3 after three.

The Shockers are down in order in the fourth including another K (on a change?). The Aztecs strike out on a change to start their fourth. Two groundouts follow. 1-3 after four.

DeeDee Hernandez starts the fifth in the circle for SDS. She is #1 on the early list for the Aztecs. The bottom of the order in out in order for the Shocks. An error is followed by a 6-4-3 DP to end the fifth. 1-3 after five.

Sydney (who else?) leads off the sixth with a bunt single and advances to second on a throwing error by the pitcher. With one out, Lauren doubles her home. 2-3 in the middle of the sixth (with the sixth place leading off the seventh for the Shocks). The Aztecs are out in order in the bottom half, the middle out a nice running catch by Addison toward the left field line. An awesome change by Alison for a strike out to end the inning. 2-3 after six.

After Taylor grounds out, Bailey pinch hits for Lainee and fans on a change in the dirt. Caroline pinch hits forKrystin and pops out to end the game.


Shockers 2-3 San Diego State

One bad inning is one too many. Three earned runs, six hits, one walk and two strikeouts for Alison. Sydney had three of the five Shocker hits including a home run. Lauren had an RBI-double. No hits from the bottom four spots in the order.

[OSShock]

6,7,8,9 = 0 for 11

[shocks02]

3 of the 5 hits from Syd tonight. Bottom of the order continues to struggle. Thought Ali Cooper was pretty good after the first few innings. Hopefully someone in the bottom of the order can get going this weekend, otherwise it might be a long season against quality competition.

[shoxlax]

Really think they need to find a spot for Jessica Garcia’s bat in the lineup.

[flyingMoose]

Really think they need to find a spot for Jessica Garcia’s bat in the lineup.

And get Addison's bat from last year in the lineup. Someone suggested they are trying to change her unorthodox swing to a more orthodox swing?

[WuDrWu]

I'm not smart enough to break down her swing, but she's not the same person at the plate, not close.

Syd is hitting .810. Unbelievable. She could go 4-5 tomorrow and her average drops. lol