Shocker SB at North Texas

[flyingMoose]

The Shockers have their next-to-last conference series in Denton this weekend against the Mean Green of North Texas. Games are Friday at 6 pm, Saturday at 2 pm, and Sunday at noon.

North Texas are 28-19 overall and 15-6 in the AAC, a tie for second place with Charlotte. One of their losses is to Oklahoma State, 2-1. They close out their conference regular season next weekend against Charlotte.

[Conference stats again]

The top three hitters for the Mean Green are Mikayla Smith (OPS of 1.128 and six homers), Molly Rainey (1.003), and Lexi Cobb (.991). The starting pitching for a weekend is McKenzie Wagoner (ERA of 2.10 and WHIP of 1.04), Skylar Savage (2.15 and 1.31), and Mackenzie Childers (2.88 and 1.22). Nice pitching numbers all, but the top two offenses in the conference are their last two weekends.

The same four continue to lead the offense during conference for the Shocks: Addie (1.669 and eleven homers), CC (1.587 and seven homers), Taylor (1.383 and nine homers), and Krystin (1.094). Unfortunately, nobody else is close. The pitching numbers are still ugly (Team ERA of 4.11 and WHIP of 1.72), but the starts by Lauren and Chloe this past weekend were encouraging.

The Shockers are in a three-way tie for fourth place in the AAC at 12-9. Based on the current RPI, Charlotte is likely in the NCAAs, but everyone else is going to have to win the conference tournament to qualify. With three likely wins next weekend against Memphis, the games this weekend are critical to the Shocks for seeding in the AAC Tournament. Charlotte at UAB is the only other series this weekend involving a matchup of top-six teams.

[SubGod22]

[1972Shocker]

image.png

[1972Shocker]

Shocks down in order in the 1st. Lauren walked 2 but left them stranded with back-to-back strikeouts to end the inning.

Shocks down in order in the 2nd. A 2-out homer wind blown homer puts North Texas on the board in the bottom half.

Shocks get a 2-out Texas Leaguer to left by Krystin but nothing else in the 3rd. A walk and a bunt single gave North Texas runners on 1st and 2nd with 1 out. Lauren got a big strikeout but then walked the nest 2 batters for force in the 2nd North Texas run of the game. Alex came in to get a strike out to leave the bases loaded. I guess that answers the question about Alex's status.

In the 4th Addie reached on an error. Taylor just missed a double into the left field corner. Addie thrown out trying to steal 2nd. Taylor walked. Burbs hit into a 6-4-3 double play. Alex gave up a single to right center and an infield single to short to open the bottom half of the inning but did a good job getting a foul pop to 3rd on a bunt attempt, a pop out to 2nd and a foul out to left.

After 4 full it is North Texas 2 - Wichita State 0. The Shockers only have 1 hit. The 2 out single to left by Krystin in the 2nd.

After a weak pop up to short by Sami to open the 5th Lainee hit sharp liner up the middle that basically hit the pocket of the pitcher's glove That was too bad because Caroline Tallent followed with a home run to dead center just clearing the fence at the 220 mark to put the Shocks on the scoreboard. In the bottom half of the inning Alex retired the first 2 hitters before a well hit ball to center bounced off Addie's glove for a double (I thought Addie was going to catch that). Alex came back to get a strike out with a dandy change up.

Heading into the 6th inning it is North Texas 2 - Wichita State 1.

Krystin Nelson is leading off the 6th for the Shocks so this is where they need to at least get it tied up. Krystin, CC and Addie due up followed by Taylor if anyone gets on. Krystin hits a one hopper of the wall just right of center but the center field played it very well and held Krystin to a single. CC line a single to right just short of he right fielder so Krsytin was only able to advance to 2nd as she had to make sure the ball was down. Addie had a great ball to hit on the first pitch but took it for a strike as she often does. A nice change up on the 2nd pitch locked Addie up for strike 2. Addie worked the count even then hit a sharp one hopper that look to be heading into center field but it just clipped Krystin on her heel of her right foot as she was trying to jump over the ball. Something is under review.but I am not sure for what. Wow, they ruled Krystin safe. @flyingMoose may have to explain this one. In any case the Shocks have the bases loaded with no outs. Taylor flied out to shallow right center but it was deep enough to score Krystin from 3rd to tie the game at 2-all. Burbs hit a high fly ball to center that the wind must have affected as the centerfielder turned the wrong way on and was unable to hall it in right the wall in dead center. Addie scored the go ahead run from 2nd with Avery advancing to 2nd. Sami flied to center with Avery advancing to 3rd. Lainee ripped a liner down the 3rd base line that the UNT 3rd baseman made a very nice backhand grab on. Probably would have been foul if it had not been caught or touched by the 3rd baseman. Now can Alex come out and set the Mean Green down. The answer is no. After a ground ball out to Taylor at short back to back singles put runners at 1st and 2nd. A soft liner to Jess at 1st makes it 2 outs. A 4 pitch walk loads the bases and draws a visit from Coach B. and Coach O. Coach B talking to the infielders, Coach O to Alex and Lainee. North Texas has their clean up pitcher up. Alex induces a can of corn to right field pretty much right at Caroline who just waits for it to drop into her glove. Whew!

After 6 innings the Shocks lead for the first time in the game 3-2.

In the top of the 7th the Shocks put 2 one with 1 out on a pair of walks. But CC rolled to first who went to 2nd for the force out and Addie lined a ball that the 3rd baseman was able grab to her left and just off the ground. Up to Alex to close this one out. A lead off no-doubter to center field ties it up at 3-all. Alex gets the 1st out on a soft one hopper to Sami at 2nd. Addie makes a great catch in center for out number 2 saving what would have been at least a double. A line drive to Jess at 1st ends the inning and we head to the 8th inning tied at 3-3.

The Shockers have Taylor, Burbs and Sami due up in the 8th. Taylor line a single to right center but Burbs grounds into her 2nd double play of the game this one 4-6-3. Sami grounds out to short. Alison comes in to pitch for Alex and gives up a lead off double to left center to the 9-hole hitter as UNT roles over to the top of the order. The first 2 hitters in the order for UNT are slappers. After fouling off the 1st two pitches attempting to bunt the lead off hitter strikes out on a nice change up. The next batter walks on 4 pitches, probably semi-intentionally, putting runners at 2nd and 3rd with 1 out. That proved to be valuable as the next batter bounced a ball into the 5-6 hole and Taylor got the force at 3rd which was probably her only play. Krystin then made a very nice pick on a short hop to her left to and threw to first to for the final out of the inning.

Brown, Tallent and Garcia go down quickly on 8 pitches in the top of the 9th. Alison gets the 1st hitter on a foul out to Krystin. She then throws a terrific change up to get ahead in the count 1-2 to the next batter before making a really bad pitch the ended up over the fence in right field for a walk-off home run.

Final Score: North Texas 4 - Wichita State 3.

[1972Shocker]

On the ball that Addie hit in the 6th that hit Krystin in the foot I am guessing that the umps most have ruled that the North Texas shortstop, who was the closest fielder did not have an opportunity to make a play that would have resulted in an out. She probably would have had to dive for the ball to perhaps knock it down.

[1972Shocker]

One interesting thing in this game is the North Texas apparently let's their starter, Mckenzie Wagoner call her own pitches. As she would look at her wrist band then give a 3-number signal to her catcher. Seems to work well for her.

[1972Shocker]

image.png

I have feeling the Shocks planned on going with Alison in this 2nd game and changed that up after using Alison in the 8th and 9th innings of Game 1.

[1972Shocker]

Based on the way this game is going I think I should just remain silent.

[Stickboy46]

Why does it feel like we are going to lose somehow even though Chloe will throw a no hitter.

[Stickboy46]

Lol .. Chloe gives up a home run on a strike out at bat (that was an awful 3rd pitch call)

[1972Shocker]

Well there goes the perfect game, the no-hitter and the shutout. But perhaps worse than that the Shocker offense has left 12 runners on base in the first 5 innings.

[1972Shocker]

Wow! What a terrible job by the Shocker offense. CC leads off the 6th, moves to 2nd on a wild pitch. Addie gets ahead in the count 3-0 then strikes out. CC moves to 3rd on a wild pitch. Taylor grounds out to short with CC holding on at 3rd. Burbs grounds out to 3rd.

It indeed does look like Chloe will be the losing pitcher in this game.

[BAShocker]

Once again, situational hitting.

What a wasted effort, feel sorry for Chole. She deserved way better.

[Stickboy46]

Wow! What a terrible job by the Shocker offense. CC leads off the 6th, moves to 2nd on a wild pitch. Addie gets ahead in the count 3-0 then strikes out. CC moves to 3rd on a wild pitch. Taylor grounds out to short with CC holding on at 3rd. Burbs grounds out to 3rd.

It indeed does look like Chloe will be the losing pitcher in this game.

I absolutely hate taking the bat out of her hands on a 3-0 pitch. That pitch was a meatball

[BAShocker]

Looks to me like we keep trying to hit the ball out of the park, vs. just making contact and focusing on base hits.

Fundamentally meh offensively.