23 Shockers v Omaha

[flyingMoose]

The Shockers host Omaha on Wednesday at 500 pm for their mid-week game.

The Mavericks are members of the Summitt League where they are a preseason pick for second place behind South Dakota State. Omaha has a record of 16-8 including two losses to Nebraska.

Rachel Weber has an OPS of 1.018 with a team-leading four home runs. No other Mav is north of .900. The bulk of the innings pitched belong to Kamryn Meyer (ERA of 1.21 and WHIP of 1.04) and Sydney Nuismer (3.48 and 1.64).

The Shocker pitching in IP order is Lo (2.11 and 1.10), Alison (2.97 and 1.51), and Alex (1.96 and 1.04). If Alison can cut down her BB issued, she can get her numbers in line with the other two. A ratio of two Ks to one BB would be nice, and she is not close.

The five Shocks with an OPS above 1.00 are led by Lolo (1.379 and nine homers) and Sydney (1.371). Others are Zoe (ten homers), Addison (seven homers), and Lauren.

[1972Shocker]

I don't believe this is just a show-up game for the Shocks. If they do not come focused and ready to play (and even if they do) this is a game they could lose. Omaha is sitting at #80 in the RPI right now for what that is worth.

Obviously you want to win this game but I wonder if the Shocks might split up in the circle depending on the flow of the game.

[1972Shocker]

Looks like 5-4 Jr. RH Sydney Nuismer (3.48 ERA.1.64 WHIP) will be in the circle for the Mavs to start the game. The Mavs number 1 pitcher, Sr. Kamryn Meyers is also a righty bat at 5-11 will offer a somewhat different look for the Shocks if she is called on in relief.

[flyingMoose]

Meyer pitched two games last week and was the Pitcher of the Week in the Summitt. The Mavs start their conference schedule this weekend starting with two games on Saturday. The Shockers may not see her at all.

Lo starting for the Shocks certainly suggests she is not the Friday starter this weekend unless she exits with a big lead after a few innings.

[flyingMoose]

A leadoff single for Omaha is followed by three Ks with a stolen base tucked in there. No score in the middle of the first.

Sydney starts off with a double, and a sac bunt by Addison moves her to third. Interesting, unless the bunt was a base-hit attempt. Lauren follows with a sac fly to score Syd. Zoe and Lolo single to continue the rally, but Sami grounds out. 1-0 Shocks after one.

Nothing doing for the Mavs in the second. Taylor has a leadoff single and moves to second on an outfield error but goes no further. 1-0 after two.

A walk, a passed ball, and a ground out move an Omaha runner to third, but there she stays.

Lauren singles and Zoe follows with a two-run shot, her eleventh homer of the year. Lolo and Taylor single and Lainee drives Lolo home with a double. 4-0 Shocks after three.

Another leadoff walk for the Mavs stays at first for the next three outs.

Meyer is on to start the bottom of the fourth. As 1972Shocker suggested, this may be a pre-planned split of the innings. Meyer hits Sydney, and Addison triples her home. Lauren, Zoe, and Lolo all fan. 5-0 after four.

Alison is on to start the fifth. More pre-planned shenanigans? A leadoff walk - sigh. The runner moves to second on a groundout and scores on a two-out single, the batter advancing to second. Another single to right, but Taylor fires a strike to the plate to cut down the runner from second. Shockers lead 5-1 in the middle of the fifth.

Three more Shocker outs in the bottom half. 5-1 after five.

Another walk to Omaha, this one with one out. A line drive DP, Krystin to Zoe, ends the Omaha sixth.

Syd singles, steals second and score on a double by Lauren. 6-1.

A two-out walk this time issued by Alison, but a pop out ends the game.


Omaha 1-6 Shockers


Lo gets the win with four shutout innings, allowing one hit and two walks with six strikeouts.

Sydney, Lauren, Zoe, Lolo, and Taylor all had two hits. Lauren and Zoe each had two RBI with Zoe homering.

[SubGod22]

Zoe has been on fire!

[SubGod22]

Taylor says NO!

[SubGod22]

Krystin has been playing a fantastic 3B

[1972Shocker]

Pretty solid win by the Shocks. Perhaps could have have had 2 or 3 more runs. Omaha's pitching was decent, especially Kamryn Meyers in relief. The Shocks pitching was okay but not the best I a have seen them. Alison was especially a bit off. But they can get away with that against a relatively weak hitting Omaha team.

The Shocks probably did not get as much mileage out of their 12 hits as the normally would but part of that was some key strike outs by Omaha pitchers and the fact that Omaha did not walk anyone. Syd was hit by a pitch. While Lauren and Alison only gave up 3 hits they did walk 5 and pitched behind in the count quite a bit.

Very nice throw by the freshman RF Sedlacek to get the final out of the 5th at home plate.

I doubt if HCKB was totally happy with this effort, but considering they were coming off the high of the come from behind series win over UCF, a long trip home and a day off on Monday, I think perhaps a little malaise might have been expected.

I expect the team will be a bit more fired up for South Florida this weekend.