23/RV Shockers v USF

[flyingMoose]

The Shockers continue their conference schedule by hosting USF this weekend. Games are Friday at 6 pm, Saturday at 2 pm, and Sunday at noon.

The Bulls have a record of 22-15, 3-0, sweeping East Carolina in their conference opening series last weekend. Being in Florida, they get to play a variety of teams who go south for the winter. Their record against teams who were at least RV is 2-7. They have a win over Kansas, the only common opponent. USF is the pick for third in the Preseason Coaches' Poll, just one point ahead of Houston.

The highest OPS for the Bulls belongs to Marissa Trivelpiece at .948 with a team-leading three homers. Nobody else is above .725. Payton Dixon has almost twice as many innings as anyone else on the staff. She has an ERA of 1.47 and WHIP of 1.13. Others are Jaden Martinez (2.51 and 1.48) and Gabriella Nori (2.58 and 1.08). Antoinette Hill (4.49 and 1.77) has made almost all of her appearances in a relief role.

The Shocks still have five hitters with an OPS above 1.000: Lolo (1.369 and nine home runs), Sydney (1.352), Zoe (1.128 and eleven homers), Addison (1.081 and seven homers), and Lauren (1.032).

The pitching for the Shockers in IP order is Lo (2.00 and 1.08), Alison (2.95 and 1.51), and Alex (1.96 and 1.04).

[1972Shocker]

USF has played a pretty decent schedule in the non-con with the 9 games you mentioned. They were more or less competitive in those games The best game as a 4-3 win over #11/#9 Texas.

USF was picked to finish 3rd behind UCF and the Shocks in the AAC preseason coaches' poll. So the Shocks are off to the most challenging start to AAC play that they could get. OTOH, it is an opportunity to grab the bull by the horns (pun intended) and take early control in the AAC.

At least the Shocks don't have to deal with Georgina Corrick anymore. However, Payton Dixon appears to be pretty solid and the Shocks will probably see her in 2 of the 3 games.

Looks like the wind will be blowing 20 mph out of the SSW for Friday's game. Looks like we have a cool front moving in after game Friday with the wind out of the NNW at around 10 mph at game time on Saturday. Looks like the wind switches back to the SSW for Sunday at 20-30 mph but with the temps reach a peak of 78.

[SubGod22]

Syd needs 5 hits this weekend to move into the NCAA all time top 20.

[1972Shocker]

Gabriella Nori in the circle for USF. Thought for sure we would see Dixon in this one.

[shoxlax]

Gabriella Nori in the circle for USF. Thought for sure we would see Dixon in this one.

NM

[1972Shocker]

The Shocks draw first blood in the 1st and a Sydney bunt single, a stolen base and a 2-out RBI single to left by Zoe.

USF draws even in the 2nd with a 1 out double to the gap in left center and a 2-our double over a very shallow playing Addison in left that she could just not quite get to as it tipped off the end of her glove. Not a hard hit ball at all. The scouting report got them on that one.

USF tacks on 2 more in the 3rd. A double to left after a hard line drive right at Syd for out #1 followed walk and a wild pitch to put runners at 2nd and 3rd. A single to center scored both runners.

Nori looking pretty solid in the circle for USF. The Bulls lead 3-1 after 3.

Alison comes on to pitch for the Shocks to start the 4th. Alison got 2 quick outs and then Syd let an easy groundball right at her go right between her legs (quite shocking). Then as Alison tends to do she walked the next batter to put a run in scoring position. After she went 2-0 to the next better she got some help when the batter swung a ball 3 and grounded out to Syd.

Looking very similar to the Shocks opening game last week against UCF. But the Shocks have plenty of time to get it going.

[1972Shocker]

Is it because Nori is a lefty?

I don't know. Not sure what the stats show for the Shocks for righties vs lefties. Could be she has just been their best pitcher lately. But so far she has looked pretty good.

[1972Shocker]

In the bottom on the 5th Laine looped a Texas leaguer down the left field line for a lead off single. Krystin struck out on 3 pitches. Syd hit a hot shot toward the 3-4 hole the ricocheted off the 1st basemen's glove and to 2nd base side of the 2nd baseman into right center allowing Lainee to go to 3rd. After a brief meeting on the mound Addison walked on 4 pitches to load the bases. Looked like they weren't going to give her a strike to hit with most of pitches being down.

Lulu fell behind 0-2 and just was not looking comfortable against the lefty Nori with Lulu's backside bailing on her a bit. She took a pitch at the very top of the strike zone for ball 1, but it was close. That was followed with FFBFFB to push the count to 3-2 after 2 more fouls balls Lulu laced the 12th pitch of the at bat just to the right field side of the CF hitting the base of the wall to clear the bases a give the Shocks a 4-3 lead. Lexie Kopko then came into to take over for Nori. After intentionally walking Zoe (good move) she retired Lolo and Sami to end the 5th.

3 up and 3 down in the top of the 6th for USF with the help of a nice running catch on the right field line by Taylor for the 1st out and a leaping grap of a liner ticketed to right by Sami for the 3rd out. In the bottom of the 6th, after Taylor popped to short and Lainee struck out, Burbs pinch hit for Krystin and homered to center. Syd followed with a double to left and Addison went yard (a no doubter) to left center. Lulu, feeling good after her monumental AB in the 5th, joined the party and homered to center (on an 0-2 count no less) and just like that the Shocks lead grows to 5 at 8-3.

Vivian Ponn comes in to pitch for USF.

In the top of the 7th Alison works around a 1 out walk to seal the Shockers 8-3 win.

Nice job Ladies (again).

[shocks02]

This team is fun. The 12 pitch at-bat from Lauren Lucas was *chefs kiss*.

[BAShocker]

This team is fun. The 12 pitch at-bat from Lauren Lucas was *chefs kiss*.

That was arguably one of the best at-bats I’ve seen in a while…softball or baseball.

[1972Shocker]

Got to give Alison some credit for the job she did in the circle over the final 4 innings shutting out USF on no hits. The only fly in the ointment with Alison was that she did walk 3 batters, but she tends to do that some.

[1972Shocker]

https://goshockers.com/news/2023/4/1/the-roundhouse-rh-shockers-rough-up-usf-pitching-in-late-innings.aspx

Five minutes, 12 pitches, seven foul balls and a full count. Lauren Lucas' clinic on staying alive, spoiling pitches, learning and adjusting started in an 0-2 hole and continued on that razor's edge for 10 more pitches.

"She battled and battled and battled," Wichita State coach Kristi Bredbenner said. "Lauren adjusted within that at-bat. If we can wear down, and get as many looks as possible, then you're going to get on time."

Lucas, who struck out her first two at-bats, fouled off six two-strike pitches from USF's Gabriella Nori, two with the count full. On the 12^th pitch of the at-bat - after 4 minutes, 59 seconds of flipping pitches toward foul territory behind third base, taking a close pitch down 0-2 and working the count full - she smacked a double to center field that hit the wall on the bounce and cleared the bases to build a 4-3 lead in the fifth inning.

[ShockTalk]

Nice to see Lauren's double and three touching home, but I really wanted to see her complete "at-bat" plus this. Just an unbelievable at-bat, especially coming from down 0-2.

Way to hang in there Lauren!!

[1972Shocker]

[1972Shocker]

Lexie Kopko, surprisingly, starting in the circle for USF. Makes me wonder if Payton Dixon might be injured or ill.