Shocker SB Tournament

[flyingMoose]

Shocker Softball Tournament


The Shockers continue their homestand by hosting Missouri State and Western Illinois in a double round-robin tournament this Saturday and Sunday. The Shocks play back-to-back games starting at 230pm on Saturday and 130pm on Sunday.


Missouri State are a member of the Missouri Valley Conference where they are a preseason pick for fifth among the ten schools. Outfielder Erika Velasquez Zimmer is a member of the Pre-Season All Conference Team.

The Bears are 10-8 so far this year. They have played in tournaments hosted by Mississippi State, UTSA (losing twice to Kansas), Louisiana Tech, a mid-week single game at Arkansas where they were run-ruled with only one hit off Mary Haff, and an Oklahoma-hosted tournament where they were shutout twice by the Sooners. Most of the teams they have played have been pretty good or not very good it seems.

The Missouri State offense is led by Kaitlin Beason (OPS of 1.132 and two home runs, half of the team total). Zimmer is next on the list at .874. Holly Kelley and Steffany Dickerson each have roughly one-third of the innings for the Bears. Kelley has an ERA of 2.16 and a WHIP of 1.18, while Dickerson is at 2.58 and 1.13. Kelley had a no-hitter against Abilene Christian at the Oklahoma tournament.


Western Illinois is the pick for second among six teams in the Summit League. Returning All-Conference players are Emily Ira (the Pitcher of the Year), third baseman Kelsey Marlow and DP Hailey Duwa. Ira has been Pitcher of the Week once this year for the Summit

The record for the Leathernecks is 6-13, playing at tournaments hosted by Bradley (run-ruled by Washington), Gardner-Webb, UT-Chattanooga and Auburn (losing twice to the Tigers). Their record is not that good and the schedule does not appear to be that good either.

Hailey Duwa with an OPS of .920 and Jasmine Lara at .913 lead the offense for Western. Emily Ira and Megan Lotarski both have an ERA of 3.29 with WHIPs of 1.12 and 1.76 respectively.


Bailey’s ERA is now 2.76 with a WHIP of 1.13, while Caitlin, second on the IP list, is 5.51 and 1.84. Hailey in limited innings has an ERA of 1.02 and a WHIP of 1.39.

Paige has the highest OPS at .989. Climbing the charts, Madison now has an OPS of .866 with Ryleigh at .847.

[1972Shocker]

Pretty good deal:

[flyingMoose]

It's a beautiful day - let's play two.

[flyingMoose]

Early Game

Missouri State 5-0 Western Illinois

A one-hitter by Holly Kelley with two walks and ten strikeouts. The Bears had ten hits.

[1972Shocker]

Wichita State 3 - Missouri State 1

Another solid pitching peformance by Bailey Lange with a complete game 4-hit, 9 strike-out, 0 walks performance.

Madison Perrigan continues her improved hitting with a 2-run home run in the bottom of he 2nd to provide Bailey all the runs she would need. The Shocks scored an unearned insurance run in the 6th innings.

Things did get a little dicey in the 7th inning though. An infield single (bunt?), a single to LF and an error on Laurie Derrico at SS loaded the bases for MSU with no outs. Anotther single to left scored a run for the Bears and kept the bases loaded still with no outs. Bailey responded by striking out the next 3 batters to close out the win.

The Shocks improve to 11-8 on the year and Bailey improves to 7-4 and lowers her ERA to 2.57,

[flyingMoose]

The home run by Madison was another line shot to right center.

Bailey had a perfect game until the triple with two outs in the top of the fifth. The batter hit the second of back-to-back change-ups. Ryne is a big fan of such.

The infield single in the top of the seventh was a one-bounce, high-hopper down the third base line about ten feet (full swing, I think). Madison should have left it alone to see if it would go foul, because she had no play at first.

The error in the seventh by Laurie was a dropped force out throw from Kaylee. The Bears had done something similar in the bottom of the sixth to set up the unearned run for the Shocks.

Mackenzie had three singles in the game. Bailey had nine strikeouts and no walks.

[1972Shocker]

Wichita State vs Western Illinois - Saturday Game

After a stellar ptiching perfourmance against MSU the Shocker stumbled into a big hole early against Western Illinois.

Caitlyn Bingham started in the circle. In the 2nd inning a stirke-out to lead off the inning was followed by a walk, a double down the LF line, a 2-run single, a walk, an infield single and a 3-run double to center field to score 5 runs. Haleigh Martinez tookover in the circle with a runner on 2nd and 1-out. She struck out the first batter she faced then gave up and RBI doulbe to CF before getting the final out and WIU was up 6-0.

The Shocks got back into the game in the bottom of the 3rd. Bailee Nickerson lead of with a single and Morgan Palmer reached on an error by the 2B. Mackensie Wright flied out ot RF with Bailee tagging and going to 3rd. Ryleigh Buck reached on an error by the WIU pitcher (throwing?) with Bailee scoring, Morgan advancing to 3rd and Ryleigh advancing to 2nd. Laurie Derrico then homered to LF to make the score 4-6 after 3 innings.

After Haleigh walked the 1st two WIU batters in the 4th she was replaced in the circle by Bailey Klitzke. BaileyK got a strikeout and a pop out to 2B. I doesn't mentiion a double-play in the live stats but the runner on 2nd is described as being out at 2nd by the 2B unassisted. In any case, BaileyK did a good job getting out of the inning.

In the top of the 5th BaileyK walked the first 2 WIU hitters. She then got a double play but not sure what happened. The live stats describe it as a double play from 3B to 1B but with the runner on 2nd out on the play and the runner on 1st advancing to 2nd????. With a chance to get out of the inning unscathed Bailey gave up an RBI triple CF and another walk before ending the inning with a strikeout.

In the bottom of the 5th the Shockers loaded the bases after 2 were out on a Madison Perrigan double to CF and 2 walks but Bailee Nickerson fouled out to RF to end the trheat.

WIU lead after 5 innings 7-4.

BaileyK got a quick 1-2-3 inning in the top of the 6th. In the Shocker half of the 6th 3 consecutive 1-out singles by Mackenzie, Laurie and Ryleigh loaded the bases for Paige Luellen. Paige got the WIU pitcher out of that jam quickly with a grand slam home run to CF to put the Shocks up 87.

Bailey Lange came in to pitch the 7th and retired WIU in order including striking out the final two batters to seal the come-from-behind win for the Shocks.

Wichita State 8 - Western Illinois 7

Perhaps flyingMoose attended the games and can add some color to the two plays I couldn't quite decipher from the live stats.

The Shocks improve to 12-8 on the season. BaileyK was the winner and is now 3-1 and BaileyL picked up her 3rd save of the season.

[flyingMoose]

The main takeaway from this game is that we are still a one-woman pitching staff. BaileyK kept things interesting, but stemmed the tide and got the win.

Most, if not all, of the early extra-base hits by the Leathernecks were off change-ups.

Yes, the pitcher (the #1 for the Leathernecks) airmailed the throw to first base in the third inning. Earlier in the inning, Morgan and her slapper speed caused the second baseman to hurry and mishandle Morgan's ground ball for an error. Laurie's homer was down the left line. The WIU coach questioned whether the ball was actually fair. The three umpires got together and stayed with the original call of a home run.

I don't recall the play ending the top of the fourth, but you are right - the description does not make sense.

However, the top of the fourth was really interesting, and none of it shows up in the LiveStats. After the two walks and BaileyK entering the game, the batter (with no outs? one out?) took off for first base when the first pitch to her was called a ball. The runner from second began moving to third, and BaileyK threw the ball to Mackenzie for an (apparent) out. HCKB, not happy with the zone, was a few steps out of the dugout, but this did not seem to be a factor. The umpires got together and sent the runner back to second. HCKB screamed at the plate umpire that he had done nothing - no hands in air for dead ball, no verbal of Time - nothing. He stayed with the decision. HCKB continued to complain and eventually got a formal Warning.

I would love to see the video of the game and see what actually happened. (Will it appear on YouTube?) Frankly, even if he did kill the play, he should not have. If runners have wandered off a base, he should wait until they get back on a base before he calls Time and has the batter return to the plate to complete her At Bat. The plate umpires for both games have worked a number of Valley games in the past and done a fine job, but this was not one of the better nights for either of them.

The description of the play in the top of the fifth is correct. Mackenzie fielded a ground ball with her foot already on the bag, forcing the runner coming from second, and threw out the batter at first to complete the DP. The runner on first advanced to second.

Mackenzie made a very nice diving catch of the foul pop in the top of the sixth as she charged toward home plate.

All of the singles in the bottom of the sixth were hard hits. Ryleigh's was a one-hop smash to the left of the shortstop. She fanned on it, and it went on into center field. By the reaction of the shortstop, she thought she should have made the play. Perhaps she was anticipating her throw for the force out at second and did not stay with bounce of the ball. Paige's homer was a no-doubter. By the time it was as far as the circle, much less the shortstop, you knew it was gone - the kind an outfielder might not even bother to turn around.

Okay, so the last Leatherneck struck out on a change-up.

[flyingMoose]

With the help of the Web site write-up, I do remember the last out of the top of the fourth. BaileyK had the ball in the circle and bent over to fiddle with her shoelaces. The runner on second wandered off the base for some reason and then returned to second. That is a violation of the Look Back Rule, and she was declared Out. The credit for the Out went to the second baseman.

Enough other crazy stuff happened in that half-inning that I forgot that part.

[WuDrWu]

Top 5: Bailey K walks the first batter on a called strike, illegal pitch, then loses the next batter on 5 pitches. 1st and 2nd nobody out.

Hard groundball to 3rd, stepped on the bag and threw to 1st for the double play. I don't think Makenzie Wright could have missed tagging 3rd even if she tried to, the ball was hit right there.

Fortunate as the next batter tripled to center and scored just one, as opposed to 2 or 3.

A walk and then a strikeout ended the inning, 7-4 Leathernecks.

[1972Shocker]

The MIssouri State game is on YouTube. Don't see the WIU game yet.

[flyingMoose]

The WSU-Western Illinois replay of Saturday.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mNFJ495L2qw

The replay of the crazy play starts at the 1:25:00 mark. The live action starts a minute or so before that.

The umpire did indeed hold up his hands for a Dead Ball. This killed the play and the opportunity for the Shockers to get an Out. However, as I averred in an earlier post, the ball is live, a runner is off her base, and you simply cannot kill the play in that situation. If a runner is confused, that is her problem until she gets on a base or is put out.

As I stated before, this is a good, solid umpire. He just messed this one up.

[flyingMoose]

Early Game

Western Illinois 1-2(10) Missouri State

This game went to the ITB in the tenth, where a runner is placed on second base to start the inning, before it was decided.

[flyingMoose]

Missouri State at Shockers

The Shockers have the normal starting lineup with Morgan as the DP. Caitlin has the start for the Shocks, while Kaitlin Beason has the start for the Bears.


Missouri State strikes first in the first on a walk, ground out and two wild pitches.

The Shockers load the bases in the second with one out on an infield single by Asea and singles by Caitlin and Bailee, but a fielder's choice ground ball and a fly out end the inning.

The Shocks take the lead in the third. After Laurie singled, Paige hit a home run to right. The right fielder was immediately replaced. Injury? Something else?

Shockers lead 2-1 after three. Caitlin has yet to give up a hit. She has issued two walks and has four strikeouts, one of her better outings to start with.

[1972Shocker]

Missouri State at ShockersCaitlin has yet to give up a hit. She has issued two walks and has four strikeouts, one of her better outings to start with.

And a really nice bounce back from her start against WIU yesterday. At least through the 1st 4 innings today.

[flyingMoose]

Caitlin gives up a game-tying homer in the fifth and is replaced by BaileyK after a strikeout of the next batter - the "only twice through the lineup" theory at work.

Caitlin gives up two runs in 4.1 innings on two hits and three walks along with six strikeouts.

BaileyK gives up the lead on a walk, bunt single, walk and her throwing error (to the plate?) which allows two runs to score.

The Shockers battle back in the bottom of the fifth. A triple by Mackenzie, single by Ryleigh to score a run, double by Laurie, and intentional walk to Paige to load the bases brings on a change of pitchers for Missouri State. Madison singles off the reliever to tie the game. Asea follows with a sac fly for a Shocker lead, and Bailey has a pinch-hit double that plates two more to extend the lead.

The Shocks lead 7-4 after five. With Bailey pinch-hitting for BaileyK, she is now in the circle to start the sixth.

A two-out walk is followed by an infield single and an error by Laurie that scores a run for the Bears.

In the seventh, the Bears get two infield singles back to Bailey and a sac bunt to put the tying runners in scoring position with one out. Another infield single scores one. Bailey then gets two strikeouts end the game. Phew!


Missouri State 6-7 Shockers

BaileyK gets the benefit of the Shocker fifth to get the win (now 4-1) after giving up the lead in the top half. Bailey gets her fourth save.

Ryleigh and Laurie each had two hits. Paige had a homer, Mackenzie had a triple and Laurie and Bailey had doubles for the extra-base hits. Paige and Bailey each had two RBI.

[1972Shocker]

Gotta love the way the Shocks answered MSU's 3- spot in the top of the 5th to take a 4-2 lead with an even bigger 5-spot in the bottom half to immediately regain the lead at 7-4.

[flyingMoose]

The original tournament schedule has the Shockers playing Western Illinois on Sunday before they play Missouri State. Has there been a change and there is another game yet to be played? I guess I will find out when I get back.

[flyingMoose]

Western Illinois at Shockers

Deja vu all over again.

Bailey was in the circle with Caitlin as the DP.

Western scored two in the second and Caitlin answered with a solo home run.

Bailey singled, advanced on two ground outs and scored on Laurie's double in the third to tie the game.

The Shocks scored two in the fourth to take the lead. Asea walked and advanced to third on a throwing error on Caitlin's ground ball with Caitlin winding up at second. Bailey then doubled them both home.

The Leathernecks took a 6-4 lead in the sixth, scoring four runs on four hits, two walks and an error.

The bottom of the seventh, ah yes. Bailey reached second on an outfield error on her fly ball. Mackenzie walked and Ryleigh moved them to second and third with a sac bunt. With two outs, Paige delivered a walk-off three-run homer. Two nights in a row that Paige broke their hearts.



Western Illinois 6-7 Shockers

Bailey is now 8-4 with the win. She gave up five earned runs, giving up nine hits and two walks, striking out nine.

The Shocks had six hits and four walks. Paige had two hits including the big home run, and Bailey had two hits including a double. Laurie also had a double, and Caitlin had a homer. The multi-RBI hitters were Paige with three and Bailey with two.

[1972Shocker]

Deja vu indeed. Not only to the 1st game with WIU but also with the earlier game today with MSU.

I really like the Shocker capacity to come from behind it win these games. Perhaps the Shocks were a bit lucky but when you do it in 3 consecutive game perhaps the Shocks are creating their own luck.

In any case it was a good weekend for the Ladies.