Shocker SB v Memphis

[flyingMoose]

Shocker SB v Memphis


The Shockers open conference play this weekend hosting Memphis in single games Friday through Sunday. The start times are 6pm on Friday, 3pm on Saturday and 11am on Sunday.


The Tigers are a preseason pick for sixth among the eight schools playing softball in the AAC with their current RPI being fourth among the AAC schools. Their record thus far is 21-7. They played in tournaments hosted by Florida Gulf Coast, Northwestern (LA) State, UL-Lafayette and three tournaments hosted by themselves. They played two mid-week games earlier this week, one a win over RV Ole Miss. That win is one of only two wins against teams with an RPI less than 100. (Well, next is 100 and 102.)

The Memphis offense is led by Ashley Threatt (five homers), Kyler Trosclair and Baylee Smith, all of whom have an OPS better than 1.000. Two others have an OPS topping .900. Trosclair (a returning First Team All-Conference member) and Smith have been Player of the Week this year. One has to think that the numbers given above are inflated by their schedule.

Molly Smith has almost two-thirds of the starts for the Tigers. She has an ERA of 1.00 a WHIP of 0.95. She has been named the Pitcher of the Week for the AAC. Mariah Nichols has almost all of the remainder of the innings. Her numbers are 1.65 and 1.08. Those are impressive numbers for both pitchers, but again, the schedule may be a factor.


The record for the Shockers is now 16-10.

Bailey’s ERA is now 2.62 with a WHIP of 1.18. She has pitched just over half of the innings with no one else pitching more than about 20% of the innings.

Paige has the highest OPS at 1.067 followed by Laurie at .902. Bailey, Ryleigh and Bailee are all above .800.

[1972Shocker]

RH: Balanced American Challenges Shockers

http://goshockers.com/news/2018/3/23...-shockers.aspx

The Tigers rely on speed with a lineup heavy on slap-hitters, Bredbenner said. They rank No. 9 nationally with a .344 batting average and No. 18 with an average of two steals a game.

The American plays its weekend series over three days, a change from the MVC's single game followed by a doubleheader. Bredbenner likes the change. She plans to throw Bailey Lange on Friday and Sunday. Saturday's starter will either be Mckenzie Weber or Caitlin Bingham.

Bredbenner is curious to see which teams will throw their top pitcher all three games and which have enough confidence to throw a No. 2 on Saturday. In single games, Bredbenner expects opponents to go to their bullpens more quickly. That means hitters must be ready to adjust their approaches within a game and without the luxury of several at-bats to scout the pitcher.

[flyingMoose]

Game Day! Plan to go see this one.

[1972Shocker]

With 2 outs in the Shocker half of the 1st Laurie Derrico fell behind in the count 0-2, worked it back to 2-2, then delivered the 1st run of the game with a solo homer to left.

Shocks 1 - Memphis 0

A triple and a single to lead off the 3rd plus a 2-out single plates 2 runs for Memphis as the Tigers take a 2-1 lead.

Bailee NIckerson gets just the 2nd Shocker hit to lead off the 4th with a home run to left center to tie the game at 2-all.

In infield single and a throwing error on Ryleigh Buck on the ensuing sac bunt put Memphis runners on the ocrners with no outs to open the 5th innings. BaileyK on in relief of BaileyL. Not sure I would of made that move but hope it works out. BaileyK did a nice job giving up only a RBI sac fly. Memphis leads 3-2.

In the bottom of the 6th a 1-out single by McKenzie and a 2-out single by Laurie put runners on the corners but Paige flew out to left to end the inning.

Memphis threatened in the 7th with a 1-out walk followed by a double to center but the runner at 1st was thrown out on the play flyingMoose may have to describe this one. Shocks need one in the 7th to extend the game.

A lead off walk to Madison Perrigan followed by a Ryleigh Buck sac bunt gave the Shocks a chance with a runner at 2nd. But Asea Webber and Caitlyn Bingham struck out to end the game.

Slappers 3 - Sluggers 2

The unearned run scored by Memphis in the 5th proved to be the difference maker. I thought BaileyK did a good job in relief of BaileyL so HCKB apparently new what she was doing there.

[flyingMoose]

Game One Notes

Molly Smith of Memphis is a very nice pitcher, and I can see why teams struggle against her. Her main pitches are a curve and a rise - the curve early in this game and the rise later. Most pitchers tend to have a rise/drop combination or a curve/screw ball combination. That is, two pitches that are working in the same plane, either vertical or horizontal. The Shocks had some pretty feeble swings against the curve early, including Laurie before she hit her homer. Asea and Caitlin struck out on rise balls to end the game. Having seen her once, I think the Shockers will do better against Smith on Sunday.

Memphis had an interesting lineup - slappers hitting first, third and fifth. As the game progressed, you understood - all three could also drive the ball. The leadoff hit a triple and the three-hole batter had a double during the game. Play the infield slapper depth and the outfield normal depth? Very tough on the defense when they can both slap and swing away.

Laurie's home run was wind-aided - a high fly to left that the wind pushed over the wall. Bailee's homer in the fourth did not need any help.

Poor baserunning cost the Tigers a chance for a run in the second. A double sent the runner to third where she stopped after rounding the base. However, the batter kept on going to third, creating a rundown where the Shocker got the lead runner out. Amazingly, the batter retreated to second rather than staying on third.

Both singles for RBI by Memphis in the third were on change-ups by Bailey. I understand that Ryne loves the pitch, but it seems Bailey gets hurt too much with it. (I would love to know if the walk-off homers she gave up earlier this season were off changes.) Just throw the pitch for a ball sometimes, not even trying to get a strike?

The defense in the fifth helped the Tigers get the eventual winning run. The single was to Ryleigh's immediate right. She was leaning to her left and could not get her momentum shifted and her glove down in time to stop the ball. Her career to this point has been at shortstop, and she is still learning to play first - the ball gets to you quicker, comes from a different angle and has a different spin on it. I would like to think she has adjusted by now, but this is a case where you could see she hasn't. Then she is given an error on her throw on the sac bunt. It wasn't a great throw, a bit behind Kaylee, but you would like your second baseman to rescue that throw. (Caveat: My view was partially obstructed. If I see the game on YouTube in a few days, I may totally change my mind.)

The sac fly in this inning by Memphis was a nice running catch by Bailee back in left center, deep enough that the runner advanced from first base.

Paige flew out in the sixth with two runners aboard on a first-pitch rise ball. The Shocks never really adjusted to Smith's rise - her go-to pitch late in the game.

Ah yes, the weirdness in the top of the seventh. The double sent the runner to third where Kaylee made a relay throw to try to get the out. (She should have held the ball - she never had a play at third.) The throw was wild and got past Mackenzie. BaileyK backed up the play, retrieved the ball and got it to Mackenzie who got the tag on the runner who had taken a few of steps toward home and then changed her mind and tried to scramble back to third. There was then some discussion among the umpires as Memphis coaches wanted an obstruction call on Mackenzie for blocking the base before she had the ball. The umps stayed with the Out. (And yes, the confusion for the reader of LS arises because LS says the runner advanced to second. She truly advanced to third and then was thrown out.)

This play was a really nice piece of umpiring. With the overthrow, the plate umpire, who was up at third base to make the call, had to start retreating to home in case there was a play there. The remaining base umpire (the other went to the outfield for a possible catch of the double) who originally was on the first base line came all the way to (well, near) third base to make the call. The two umpires looked at each other for a couple of seconds before the one made the call. Nicely done. (All of this not important to anyone, but since I groused in another thread about some umpiring I considered sub-standard ... :) )

BaileyK did a nice job. Her change (offspeed?) was dropping and curving, a very effective pitch for her tonight. Bailey, on the other hand, struggled. Pitch location? Pitch selection?

All four Shocker hits were by the first three spots in the order.


With only four innings pitched by Bailey and with a Shocker loss, will HCKB try to start her tomorrow? Use her for a couple of innings of relief?

[1972Shocker]

Fr. Caitlyn Bingham gets the start for the Shocks. Mariah Nichols starting for Memphis.

With Bailee Nickerson on via a walk and two outs in the bottom oif the 1st Paige walked follwed by a Ryleigh Buck single down the RF line scoring Bailee, moving Paige to 3rd and Ryleigh advanceing to 2nd on the throw from the outfield. Caitlyn the helped her own cause with a clutch 2-run single to right center as the Shocks have an early 3-0 lead.

The Shocks extend their lead in the bottom of the 3rd. Bailee Nickerson led off with a double to right field. Laurie Derrico followed with a single to right center scoring Bailee with Laurie advancing to 2nd on the trhow home. A wild pitch then advanced Laurie to 3rd. Looked like the Shocks were going to waste that socring opp when Paige grounded out to 3rd and Ryleigh grounded out to short. But after a walk to Caitlyn, Asea Webber doubled to right with Lauris scoring and Caitlyn moving to 3rd. Madison Perrgian ground out to end the inning with the Shocks leading 5-0.

Memphis gets on the board in the 4th with pretty much a gift fun from the Shocks. With 1 a walk, single and walk loaded the bases for Memphis. A 5-2 force play at home got out number 2 with the bases remaining loaded. A wild pitch scored a run and then a walk re-loaded the bases bring BaileyK on in relief of Caitlyn with the trying run at the plate. Bailey induced a pop out to Ryleigh to get out of the inning. Shocks 5 - Memphis 1.

The live stats locked up or the data input stopped with 1 out and 1 on in the bottom of the 4th.

The Shocks went on to load the bases with 2-outs in the bottom of the 4th and a Ryleigh Buck sinlge to right center deleivered 2 more runs to extend the Shocker lead to 7-1.

A one-out walk by Madison Perrigan and a two-out single by Mackenzie Wright put runners on 1st and 2nd. Bailee Nickerson continued her good day with a RBI single to center with Mackenzie advancing to 3rd making it 8-1. Laurie Derrico then ended the game by run rule with a 3-run home run to right field and the Shocks pick up their first AAC win ever with an 11-1 beatdown of the Lady Tigers.

Not a bad start for Caitlyn until she lost it a bit in the 4th but BaileyK delivered her 2nd straight solid relief performance. Caitlyn gets the win and I assume BaileyK gets a save since she came in with the tying run at the plate.

Laurie Derrico, Bailee Nickerson and Ryleigh Buck led the Shockers offensive charge today.

Tomorrow the Shocks will get a 2nd chance at Molly Smith who was very tough on them in game 1 of the series. I'm sure BaileyL will get the start for the Shocks.

http://goshockers.com/news/2018/3/24/softball-shockers-run-rule-memphis-for-first-aac-win.aspx

[flyingMoose]

For two consecutive games, BaileyK has filled her role well.

Laurie is mashing the ball like we knew she could. Madison is back into her early season funk. Bailee is an addition to the offense that you seem to be able to depend on to contribute. Perhaps Caitlin is not far away.

Did the Shocks learn enough seeing Molly Smith for seven innings? It should be interesting.

[flyingMoose]

Game Three

Bailey is in the circle for the Shockers and Molly Smith for Memphis.

In the first, Mackenzie doubles and moves to third on a bunt single by Bailee, but with no outs, the Shocks cannot get her home.

With one on, Memphis scores three in the second after two are out with the aid of catcher's interference, walk, two-RBI single, walk (Caitlin comes on in relief) and a RBI-walk.

After Caitlin walks, Bailee hits a two-run homer in the Shocker third.

Caitlin gives up four runs in the fourth including a two-run homer.

The Shocks get two of them back in the bottom half on a single by Ryleigh, double by Bailey, sac fly by Madison and double by Asea.

Tigers lead 7-4 after four, and BaileyK is on to start the fifth.

The Shockers tie the game in the sixth. Asea doubles again, Caitlin walks, Mackenzie doubles home a run and Mariah Nichols is on in relief of Molly Smith. Bailee scores a run with a fielder's choice and Laurie scores another with an infield single.

Bailey, the starter, is back in the circle to start the seventh as Paige pinch-hit for BaileyK in the sixth. Another terrific outing for BaileyK.

A disastrous eighth for the Shocks. Leadoff double, hit batter, single/error that scores two and a ground out scores a third. Three ground outs in the bottom half.


Memphis 10-7(8) Shockers

While the Tigers only had seven hits, they took advantage of six walks.

The Shockers did well enough against Molly Smith to win, but they only had one pitcher this weekend - BaileyK. The Tigers left five on, the Shocks left nine on. Despite the nice comeback, they could not get the key hit when they needed it.

BaileyK retired all six batters she faced.

Mackenzie and Asea had two doubles. Bailee had a homer and single and three RBI. The Shocks had a total of eleven hits.

[1972Shocker]

Just as BaileyK seems to be figuring it out, BaileyL has her poorest weekend of the season in the circle. Laurie heats up at the plate. Paige cools off.

[flyingMoose]

And Bailee: five for eleven, a double, two homers and five RBI

The numbers for BaileyK this weekend: 6.1 innings, no runs, three hits, two walks, three strikeouts and an uncredited save