Shocker SB at North Texas Invitational

[flyingMoose]

The Shockers continue their pre-conference schedule with four games at the North Texas Invitational in Denton this weekend. The Shocks play Northwestern State at 11 am on Saturday and North Texas immediately following at 130 pm. Sunday games are against Northwestern State at 10 am and North Texas at 3 pm.

Northwestern State are members of the Southland Conference where they are a preseason pick for third among nine teams.There is a big gap between the fourth and fifth places in the poll. Laney Roos and pitcher Bronte Rhoden are preseason selections for first-team all-conference with three other Lady Demons picked for the second-team.

Northwestern State are 6-3 after tournaments hosted by Sam Houston and UT-Arlington. They have a single game versus Grambling on Wednesday.

Keely Dubois (OPS of 1.047), Kat Marshall (1.026), and Roos (1.018) are the leading hitters. Maggie Darrs (ERA of 1.47 and WHIP of 0.73) has more than twice the innings of any other pitcher on the staff.

RV/RV North Texas are picked to win Conference USA. Ashley Peters is the Preseason Pitcher of the Year with four others picked to the first team. The Mean Green are 7-1 with a loss to 15 Kentucky. They have a single game at Tarleton State of the WAC on Wednesday.

Peters (1.22 and 0.83 with 23.0 IP) and McKenzie Wagoner (0.40 and 0.91 over 17.2 IP) are the primary pitchers for North Texas. Ciera Simon (1.152), Kailey Gamble (1.150), and Jodie Epperson (1.005) are the leading hitters.

The RV/-- Shockers are now 8-3. Hitters with an OPS above 1.000 are Sydney (1.932), Zoe (1.369 with four homers), Lolo (1.273), and Lauren (1.212). Pitchers in IP order are Alison (2.33 and 1.30), Alex (1.81 and 0.88), and Lauren (1.17 and 1.00).

[EDIT: Poll information added. San Diego State is also RV/RV.]

[flyingMoose]

Wednesday Games (mentioned above)

Grambling 1-2 Northwestern State

North Texas 6-0 Tarleton State

[SubGod22]

Go Shockers - Another Challenging Weekend Awaits Wichita State

QUICK HITS
• Wichita State is receiving votes in the NFCA Top 25.
• Wichita State is 7-3 in its last 10 games.
• Wichita State has shut out five of its first 11 opponents. The 2022 Shockers had five all season.
• Wichita State has won nine of its last 10 season openers.
• After playing just 11 home games in 2022, Wichita State has 27 games at Wilkins Stadium in 2023.
• Wichita State will face 12 teams that made it to the 2022 NCAA Tournament.
• Wichita State received three first place votes in the AAC Preseason Poll and was picked to finish 2nd, just one point behind first place UCF.
• Sydney McKinney and Lauren Howell swept the American Player and Pitcher of the Week honors on Feb. 20.
• McKinney was also named the Louisville Slugger/NFCA National Player of the Week on Feb. 21.
• McKinney leads the country in batting average, hits and OBP.
• McKinney led the nation in hits and batting average in 2022.
• McKinney is the NCAA DI active leader in hits and ranks 6th in batting average.
• McKinney became the first Shocker with 300 career hits on Feb. 19, 2023 vs. FDU.
• McKinney has a 29-game hit streak, t-11th longest in NCAA history.
• McKinney is the program's all-time hits and batting average leader and also owns single season records for runs and OBP.
• Lauren Lucas was named the American Athletic Conference Player of the Week on Feb. 13.
• Lucas currently ranks 1st nationally in doubles.
• Addison Barnard has 56 career home runs, placing her in 2nd on the Wichita State home run list.
• Barnard finished the 2022 season leading the nation in home runs per game and RBI per game, and ranked second in home runs, RBI and slugging percentage.
• Barnard's 33 home runs broke her own single season record.
• Barnard became the first known player in NCAA history with 30+ home runs and 25+ stolen bases.
• Barnard ranks 4th among NCAA DI active players in career home runs. Barnard and Oklahoma's Tiare Jennings are the only non-seniors or grad students in the Top 25.
• McKinney and Barnard were named to the USA Softball Top 50 Collegiate Player of the Year Watch List.
• McKinney and Barnard are D1 Softball (First Team) and Softball America (Second Team) Preseason All-Americans.

[shocks02]

Northwestern State appears to be a decent opponent. Most of their schedule was 200+ in the RPI last year. They’ve only given up more than three runs once in their 10 games. Played South Dakota State and Delaware close.

[1972Shocker]

Game 1 vs Northwestern State (Shocks are the visitors)

Lauren Howell in the circle for the Shocks.

More of the same for Shocks doubles by Syd and Lulu have staked the Shockers to a 1-0 lead after 1 inning.

Sami leads off the Shocker 2nd with a double, moves to 3rd on a sac bunt by Camryn and scores on an error by the SS on a ground ball by Lainee. Good to see this part of the order chipping in. Sami seems to be settling in. Lauren works around a lead off double in the bottom of the 2nd getting a bit 1-out strikeout with the runner on 3rd. Shocks lead 2-0 after 2.

The Shocks tacked on 2 more runs in the top of the 3rd. An Addison walk, a Lulu double (to 2nd base?) and Zoe walked loaded the bases. Ground outs to the right side by Lolo and Sami scored Addison and Lulu. Could have been more gut the Shocks extend the lead to 4-0. However, Northwestern had runners on 1st and 2nd to open the bottom of the 4th on a lead off walk and then i'm guessing a fielders choice on the next batter when the Shocks tried and filed to get the force out at 2nd. A sac fly moved the runners up to 2nd and 3rd. A 4 ptich walk with ball four being a wild pitch socred a run for NWS and put runners on the corners with only 1 out. Lauren gets out of the inning with back-to-back stirkeouts. The gift run narrows the Shocker lead to 4-1 after 3.

[shocks02]

Addie goes yard!

[1972Shocker]

Addie goes yard!

Hopefully, she is ready to break out. Not only did she homer but it game with 2 runners on base via an error and a hit by ptich extending the Shocks lead to 7-1. Actually good to see the Shock put up a crooked number in an inning where Syd, Lulu and Lolo ground out.

[shocks02]

Scored some runs against a good pitching staff. Lauren Howell was good again today. Hopefully she gets a chance tomorrow against UNT.

[shocks02]

Lauren Lucas with a big triple to bring in Addie. 1-0 Shox in the third.

[1972Shocker]

Shocks break it open with some help from North Texas with a big 6-spot in the top fo the 5th capped by a 3 run home run by Lolo to push the lead to 7-0.

It started with 1-out with Kristen getting hit by a pitch, followed by a Sydney bunt single, and a Addison single to right to load the bases. After falling down in the count 1-2 Lulu worked a 10-pitch walk, fouling off 4 2 strike pitches in the process, to force in a run. An error by the shortsop allowed 2 more runds to score and then Lolo left the yard to center to cap of the scoring.

An inning later North Texas strikes back plating 6 runs in the botgtom of the 6th. The UNT at bat started with and infield single, a walk and a home run to make it a 7-3 game. After getting two stirke outs a single up the middle and an infield single put runners on 1st and 2nd. A double steal moved those runners to 2nd and 3rd. That was followed by an infield single to short with both baserunners scoring on the play at first making 7-5. Alex Aquilar comes on in relief of Alison. Another infield single to short and a single up the middle plates the 6th run of the inning with runners on 1st and 2nd. Alex fianlly ends the misery with a strikeut. So the Shocks stirke out the side while giving up 6 runs.

We have a ball game heading to the 7th inning with the Shocks leading 7-6.

The Shocks pick up a big run in the top of the 7th to give them just a little bit more breathing room. Addison lead of with a single and moved to 2nd on a ground out back to the pitcher by Lulu. After Zoe Jones flied out to right, Lolo singled up the middle to score Addison. Now can the Shocks hold off North Texas.

Alex quickly sets UNT down in order in the bottom of the 7th and the Shocks get their 2nd win of the day.

Shocks 8-6-0-4
Mean Gree 6-9-3-6

The Shocks, outside of Lolo did not exactly mash the ball in this one getting outhit 6-9 but the 3 errors by UNT helped as 3 of the Shocks 5 runs were unearned. The bottom 4 in the order combined to go 0-10 in this one.

Shocker pitching continues to be pretty decent with the exception of the occasional big inning they allow.

In any case, this was a good win for the Shocks to cap of a good day.

[shocks02]

That was a roller coaster. Cooper was cruising through 5 and then totally imploded in the sixth. A good win nonetheless and a chance tomorrow to have a special weekend.

[flyingMoose]

Other Saturday Game

Northwestern State 3-5 North Texas

[flyingMoose]

Game Three

Northwestern State 2-5 Shockers

Alison started and went three innings, giving up two runs on five hits and a walk. The Shocks scored two in the bottom of the third to take a 3-2 lead, but Alex came on to start the fourth. She shutout the Lady Demons the rest of the way on just one hit and one walk, striking out seven. The win for Alex runs her record to 3-1.

Zoe had a solo homer, her team-leading fifth, and Lainee had a two-run shot. Sydney and Addison both had two hits including an RBI-double by Addison.

[SubGod22]

I believe Syd has upped her hitting streak to 32. I saw something about her having the 6th longest in history

[flyingMoose]

Game Four

Shockers at North Texas

Sami is clearly now part of the Set Six. Bailey, Laineee, and Krystin complete the lineup with Lauren (1.12 and 1.00) in the circle. Skylar Savage (1.42 and 1.11) is the pitcher for the Mean Green.

I think today is a big test for Lauren. Oh, this game has been moved up from its original 3 pm start - essentially, a trade with Northwestern State.


After walks to Sydney and Addison, Zoe brings them home with a three-run blast. 3-0 in the middle of the first.

Lauren hits the UNT lead-off hitter with her first pitch of the game. A single to center and error by LaurenL puts runners at second and third with nobody out. Two pop ups and a ground ball, and LaurenH is out of the inning. Very nice. 3-0 after one complete.

Bailey and Lainee lead off the second with singles. Childers, fourth on the IP list, is on to pitch for the Mean Green. (But 18 Ks in 11 innings!) Krystin moves the runners up with a bunt. Sydney's single up the middle scores one and a fielding error by the CF scores the second. That is the seventh error for UNT in only their third game this weekend. 5-0 in the middle of the second.

Taylor pinch-hit for Addison in the inning and is now in LF. Camryn enters to play RF.

A walk and a stolen base for UNT but two strikeouts for LaurenH. 5-0 after two.

Three up, three down for the Shocks. In the bottom of the third, Taylor makes a play in LF! After a leadoff walk, she snags a liner/fly and doubles the runner off first. Maybe bad baserunning but not likely a hit-and-run when trailing 5-0. A homer is followed by a walk and a single but no more runs score. 5-1 after three.

Lainee singles and Syd walks in the Shocker fourth but nobody scores. Three up, three down for the Mean Green. 5-1 after four complete.

LaurenL and Zoe are outs to lead off the fifth, and Lolo is intentionally walked. The UNT coach has read the stats for sure. Sami is safe on an error (their eighth of the weekend!), but Camry pops out. 5-1 in the middle of the fifth.

Three more Mean Green outs makes seven in a row retired by LaurenH. 5-1 after five.

With two outs in the sixth, Sydney and Taylor single for the Shocks, but LaurenL flies out to end the threat. The retired streak of UNT ends at eight as LaurenH hits a batter with one out. Steal, strike out, wild pitch, walk and runners are at the corners with two outs. Ground out and we move to the seventh. 5-1 Shockers.

Peters, the ace for the Mean Green, is in to start the seventh in the circle. Sami is hit by a pitch with two outs, but nothing doing for the Shocks. 5-1 in the middle of the seventh.

After a leadoff infield single, Alex is on in relief. Ugh, a walk and a bunt single load the bases. A single scores one and the bases remain loaded with nobody out. 5-2. A sac fly and it is 5-3. Third to first DP. Ball game!


Shockers 5-3 North Texas


LaurenH did a very nice job in the circle (now 5-1), and Alex squeaked out another Save. Lauren gave up four hits and four walks and had four Ks in six innings plus a batter.

Zoe had a three-run homer, the only extra-base hit among the seven hits for the Shockers. Syd and Lainee both had two hits.

Addison was subbed out because of injury?


Polls do not come out until Tuesday, but at a minimum, the Shockers should move up in the RV ranks.