Announcement

**flyingMoose** · April 19, 2018, 10:53 PM

The Shockers continue conference play this weekend, hosting UCF in a double header Friday with the first game starting at 4pm and a single game on Sunday starting at noon. As noted, these are changes from the original schedule, dictated by the expected bad weather on Saturday.

The Knights are a preseason pick for fourth among the eight schools playing softball in the AAC with their current RPI being fifth among the AAC schools. Their record to this point is 30-16 and is 2-2 against teams that are at least RV in the Coaches’ Poll including a win over #4 Florida. In conference play their record is 8-4 with a sweep of Tulsa (1-0, 2-1, 2-1), two wins over Houston, one over UConn and two over Memphis.

Since the AAC is just over half completed, the stats for both teams will reflect conference only. With the small sample size, there could be sizable fluctuations from week to week, but at least the pool of opponents is common.

The offense of UCF is led by Cassady Brewer with an OPS of 1.118, Aubrey Johnson (1.105 and four home runs in conference) and Kyra Klarkowski (1.100).

Alea White has every start but one in conference play for the Knights. She has an ERA of 2.28 and a WHIP of 1.25. In order of number of appearances, Kamryn Toney, Cierra Word and Damara Begin have pitched a total of nine!! innings in conference.

The record for the Shockers is now 24-17 with a 6-6 record in conference.

In conference, Mackenzie has turned it on and has an OPS of 1.236. She is followed by Ryleigh (1.189), Laurie (1.172 and five homers) and Bailee (1.073 and four homers). Paige has fallen way off since conference play started. I suspect she is bothered by her other leg - she has rarely played in the outfield recently.

Bailey (seven starts, ERA of 4.44 and WHIP of 1.67) and Caitlin (five starts, ERA of 4.20 and WHIP of 1.50) have all of the conference starts. BaileyK’s numbers in conference are 1.83 and 1.37.

**1972Shocker** · April 20, 2018, 05:53 PM

BaileyL in the circle for the Shocks. Alea White as expected for UCF.

BaileyL get throught the top of the 1st okay. In the bottom of the 1st Mackenzie and Asea walked. Laurie advanced then to 2nd and 3rd with a fly to RF. Ryleigh grounded to SS who threw home to get Mackenzie for the 2nd out with Asea moving to 3rd and Ryleigh advancing to 2nd on the play at the plate. Bailee delivered both runners with a sharply hit line drive single to RF giving the Shocks an early 2-0 lead.

BaileyL set the Knights down in order in the 2nd. With 2 outs in the bottom of the inning Morgan and Mackenzie singled and Asea walked to load the bases but Laurie grounded into a 6-4 force out to end the 2nd.

A triple and a single by UCF to lead off the 3rd plated a run for the Knights but BaileyL set the next three down in order. In the bottom of the 3rd a 2-out single by Paige was followed by BaileyL with a home run to center. Shocks lead 4-1 after 3 with all 4 runs scoring with 2 outs.

Bailey with a quick 9-pitch 1-2-3 ininning in the top of the 4th. In the bottom of the 4th Mackenzie siingled to left and Asea oppoed a double down the LF line to give the Shocks runners at 2nd and 3rd with not outs. Laurie after fouling off 3 pitches struck out looking. Ryeigh worked the count full before walking to load the bases in a 12-pitch at bat where she fouled of 6 two-strike pitches. The show Bailee singling to score McKenzie but Aseas was out SS to 3B. Not sure why that is not a FC. Paige line out to end the inning. Shocks let a big opportunity get away from them there but lead 5-1 after 4.

BaileyL with another quicky. 1-2-3 on 10 pitches in the top of the 5th. Another opportunity for the Shocks. BaileyL and Madison walk to open the ionning. I assume Morgan tired a couple of times to bunt the runners over and failed as she flied out to left field on a 1-2 count. Mackenzie ground into a force out at 3rd. Asea strikes out looking. Hope the Shocks don't regret not taking advantage of great situations in the 4th and the 5th.

BaileyL gets a strikeout to open the 6th but the an infield single, a single to right, a walk loaded the basses and a single to center scores 2 runs making it 5-3 with 1 out and runners on 2nd and 3rd. A wild pitch advances the runners to 2nd and 3rd. BaileyL got the 2nd out on a strike out but an error by Kaylee at 2B scored both runners to tie the game and yes the Shocks regret letting two great scoring opportunities get away from them in the 4th and the 5th. BaileyL strikes out the next batter to end the inning. This team can certainly be frustrating at times.

In the bottom of the inning UCF returns the charity with Laurie reaching 2B to lead off on an error by the UCF 3B. Ryleigh does her job with a sac bunt to move Laurie to third with one out. Bailee falls strikes out looking on a 1-ptich at bat. At least the 3rd time the Shockers have gone down looking in a key situation. Paige fouls out to end the inninng and the Shocks blow a 3rd consecutive great scoring opporunity.

Heading to the 7th with all the momentum in the UCF dugout. UCF opens the 7th with an infield single by the 9-hole hitter. BaileyL gets the 1st out on a stirke out but the runner moves into scoring postion by stealing 2B. A 4-pitch walk puts runners at 1st and 2nd with 1 out. Probably intentional or semi-intentional. A fly ball to RF advances the runners to 2nd and 3rd with 2 outs. BaileyL escapes with a big stike out to preserve the tie.

Bottom of the order up for the Shocks. BaileyL flies out to CF. How about a big fly from Madison. Madison doesn't elevate the ball but she does single up the middle and advanced to 2B on an error by the CF. Caitlyn Bingham pinch hitting for Morrgan Palmer in the 9-hole. Caitlyn strikes out but at least she was swinging. Can Mackenzie get it doen with 2 outs? Mackenzie walks on a full count. Perhaps a bit of a pitch around there. Asea's turn. Asea grounds out to 2B to end the inning.

Free softball coming up.

UCF starts the 8th with a single up the middle. The next batter reached on another error by Kaylee. Runners at 1st and 2nd no outs. Sac bunt movesa the runners to 2nd and 3rd. Probably should intentionally walk the next batter to set up the force home. I guess HCKB didn't like that idea. A fileder's choice somewhere resulting in an out at 2B scores the go ahead run. Am error by BaileyL and UCF lead by 2 at 7-5. Runners at 2nd and 3rd still only 1 out. A single up he middle scores the 3rd run of the inning but the runner on second was thrown out at the plate for out #2 with the hitter advancing to 2B. An infield single to SS puts runners at the corners. A foul pop to 1B finally ends the ugliness.

I have to go. Maybe the Shockers will pull of a miralcle but I'm not betting on it.

Thought I would check in more time before shutting down. OMG. The Shocks did have a miracle finish in their bag. Laurie singld and Ryleigh homered to left to make it 7-8 UCF. Bailee flied out to RF but Paige singled to center. BaileyL worked the count full. Fouled off on 3-2 pitch then cranked a 2-run walk off home run to RF and the Shocks won what may be the craziest game of the year 9-8.

I have to give these Ladies credit . They looked like they had this game in the bag, pretty much gave it away and some how showed the toughness to take it back when their backs were to the wall. Nuttiness to the Nth degree.

**1972Shocker** · April 20, 2018, 10:03 PM

I'm missing flyingMoose but believe it or not the Lady Shocks did it again. Jumped out to a 3-0 lead and Caitlyn was cruising until the 6th. She gave up 3 runs and loaded the bases with only one out before HCKB made a change going to BaileyK. Who knows why she waited so long. Bailey got a ground out to 1st but the go ahead run scored. A pop up ended the inning but the Shocks now trailed 4-3.

Shocks failed to score in the 6th. Bailey had a solid 7th to keep it at 4-3.

In the bottom of the 7th Asea singles and Laurie delivered the 2nd 2-run walk off home run of the day.

I highly recommend all coaches and team members buy a lottery ticket before midnight.

**1972Shocker** · April 20, 2018, 10:54 PM

goShockers.com report on the sweep of UCF

Game 1 8th inning rally:

Ryleigh's 2-run home run to make it 8-7 - Shocks may have been even luckier than I thought - Unbelievable

x.com

https://twitter.com/twitter/statuses/987472414517932032

Paige's single in front of Bailey

x.com

https://twitter.com/twitter/statuses/987473162945392641

Bailey's Walk-Off 2-run Homer - A no doubter

x.com

https://twitter.com/twitter/statuses/987474060908122112

Game 2 7th inning rally:

Laurie's Walk-Off 2-run Homer

x.com

https://twitter.com/twitter/statuses/987507959247835136

**1972Shocker** · April 21, 2018, 09:09 AM

Kristi Bredbenner‏ @CoachBredbenner

Double duty! Doubleheader sweep for @GoShockersSB in walk-off fashion.... double bypass needed for the coaching staff. We showed a lot of fight tonight! Our fire is still warming up! Can’t wait for it to be burning hot! #watchus #release #ToughTs #whatfiresyou

9:21 PM - 20 Apr 2018

**1972Shocker** · April 21, 2018, 09:48 AM

This Shocker team is definitely not a bunch of slappers. 50 home runs on the season now compared to 18 for their opponents. OTOH their pitching and defense definitely comes and goes and tends to make the hitting heroics more a necessity than a luxury.

The Shocker record for most home runs in a season is 58 in 2016. No doubt that HCKB teams can hit. The one weak spot in the lineup is Morgan Palmer who is a good defensive outfielder but is a slapper hitting only .169 with an OPS of .485. Kaylee Huecker must really be weak at the plate to earn flex player honors.

In game 2 HCKB sat Kaylee who has been making too many critical errors at 2B and replaced her with Mauriana Jamele. who hasn't played much this year. Kaylee no doubt has much better range at 2B than Mauriana has and she can make the spectacular play but her errors and the timing of the errors have hurt. With BaileyL not pitching the outfield had Bailey in RF, Asea in CF and Bailee in LF. It will be interesting to see if HCKB sticks with Mauriana on Sunday or if she just wanted to give Kaylee a chance to catch her breath and perhaps gather herself mentally. I'm sure Kaylee was a bit upset after her 2-out error allowed the 2 runs to score to tie Game 1 in the bottom of the 6th. My guess is Kaylee will be back in there on Sunday but we'll see.

Pitching-wise BaileyL and Caitlyn were both very good for 5 innings. Caitlyn was really, really good for 5 innings. The 6th inning was not good for the Shocks. BaileyK was good in the 2 innings she ptiched. May want to think about using BaileyK a little more and a little sooner at the first sign of trouble in the late innings although BaileyK has certainly had her ups and downs this season as well.

If the Shocks can clean up and minimize the pitching and defensive lapses and just make their opponents earn everything they get they can make things much easier on themselves although maybe not nearly as exciting as day like Fridday was.

**1972Shocker** · April 21, 2018, 09:51 AM

Here is Sully's look at Friday's Drama Times Two at Wilkins Stadium

Another nice report by Paul.

**1972Shocker** · April 21, 2018, 10:17 AM

Sr. Paige Luellen, all 5 foot 2 her, is now #3 all-time at WSU with 33 career home runs and is the career RBI leader. Jr. Laurie Derrico is now at 31 career home runs. Shocker DOBO Casey Williams is the career leader at 39 (in only 3 years) and Ashley Lynn is 2nd at 35.

**1972Shocker** · April 22, 2018, 02:07 PM

Shocks off to a good start for the 3rd straight game. A 2-run Homer in the 1st by Ryleigh and a grand slam in the 3rd by Mauriana.

Shocks up 7-0 after 3.

**1972Shocker** · April 22, 2018, 02:24 PM

Madison adds a 3-run Homer in the 4th to make it 10-0.

**1972Shocker** · April 22, 2018, 02:35 PM

Ballgame. 10-0 5-inning run rule. Bailey scatters 3 hits.

**1972Shocker** · April 22, 2018, 05:53 PM

goShockers.com game report.

I think that has to be described as an efficient dismantling of an opponent.

Lady Shocks with 12 home runs that produced 26 runs over the last 4 games. Unlikely they can sustain that but they have been raking lately.

I don't think BaileyL pitched that poorly against Oklahoma State or in her Friday outing against UCF but it was good to see her cruise through 5 innings today.

**1972Shocker** · April 22, 2018, 05:58 PM

RH: Shockers Power Into American Race

**1972Shocker** · April 22, 2018, 07:06 PM

BTW this was the last home weekend games for the Lady Shocks today with only a midweek doubleheader against Missouri remaining on the schedule. So today was Senior Day for 3 Shockers seniors. Mackenzie Wright, Paige Luellen and Morgan Palmer. Mackenzie finished off her weekend series with a 3-3 today and went 810 in the 3 games against UCF. Paige Luellen is currently the career RBI leader and #3 in career home runs at Wichita State, Morgan Palmer transferred to WSU from Seminole State Jr. College last year. She did not play much last year and while she hasn't hit much this year she has pretty much been a fixture in left field for the Shocks this season.

Thank you to all 3 ladies for their contriubutions to the Shocker softball program. Mackenzie and Paige have been stalwartsa at Wichita State. I'm sure there leadership has been very important to the Shockers as well as their more tangible contributions at the bat and in the field.

Many thanks and best wishes to these young ladies the rest of this season and beyond.

Announcement

Shocker Host UCF on Friday and Sunday

Shocker Host UCF on Friday and Sunday

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