Shocker SB v Nebraska

[flyingMoose]

The Shockers continue their season this weekend, hosting a series against Nebraska, another quality opponent. A doubleheader starts at 1pm on Saturday with a single game at 1pm on Sunday.

For several years now, these two teams have met, most often in a three-game set such as this one. A weekend series like this is useful as it closely simulates a conference weekend series with the conferences series for both the AAC and Big Ten being played over three days rather than two. It gives the teams a chance to adapt and adjust against an opponent played in consecutive games.

The Huskers have a record of 10-6 with an 0-2 mark against ranked teams. The weekend after the Shocks split with Pittsburgh at the Charleston tournament, Nebraska run-ruled the Panthers twice in the ACC/Big Ten Challenge. Although the Husker schedule appears to be somewhat stronger than that of the Shockers, it seems to be a step below that played by Oklahoma State.

The Huskers have used four pitchers. The top two in number of starts and innings pitched are Regan Mergele (ERA of 2.85 and WHIP of 1.28) and Lindsey Walljasper (3.03 and 1.36). There are only six complete games among the staff, so multiple pitchers in a game may be by design, much like the approach of the Cowgirls.

The Nebraska offense is led by Tristen Edwards (OPS of 1.287 and six homers), Samantha Owen (1.231), Madi Unzicker (1.141 and three homers) and Bri Cassidy (1.055).

The Shockers are led at the plate by Lauren (1.141) and Butters (1.122 and three homers). Bailee (.998) and Laurie (.996 and three homers) each fall just short of a WHIP of 1.000.

Caitlin (ERA of 1.51 and WHIP of 1.17) and Erin (2.10 and 0.91) are the mainstays of the Shocker staff. Hailey has nice numbers, but few innings, those being against the weakest part of the Shocker schedule.

Although widely assumed, it is now officially confirmed that Bailey is out for the season.

[1972Shocker]

If the weather forecast holds true it will be quite breezy on Saturday. Winds for game wind are expected to be 26-27 mph out of the WNW. Game 2 the winds or expected to be out of he NW at 23-25 mph. Looks like it will be gradually clearing skies and in the low 50's which isn't terrible but the winds may play a role in Saturday's games. Anything hit in the air from center to the right field corner will get a big boost. Look for the pitchers to work the inside corner on righties. Anything on the outer half of the plate will be a mistake. Just the opposite will apply to left hitters I would think.

Sunday will be slightly cooler and mostly cloudy but the winds will diminish significantly to 10 mph or less out of the north.

So the teams will not only need to adapt and adjust to their opponent but also to the windy conditions.

[flyingMoose]

One of Sully's RH articles focusing on the improvement by Caitlin

[1972Shocker]

That was an interesting article.

"One, two, three, four; one, two, three, four,"

Let's hope that today that is Caitlyn's rhythm and not the ump calling balls.

[flyingMoose]

Game One

A walk, ground out and single score a run for the Huskers. When Caitlin walks two more to load the bases, Erin is on to get the last two outs in the top of the first.

The Shocks start the bottom half against Walljasper with a single by Wylie, Laurie being hit by a pitch and a walk to Butters to load the bases with no outs. One out later, Asea delivers a two-run single, and Ryleigh follows with a force out that drives in a third run. Shockers lead 3-1 after one.

No runners in the second.

Noteworthy that Caitlin only faced five batters in the first, suggesting that Erin was up and ready to go from the start. The flavor of LiveStats being used does not indicate pitch counts of an at-bat, so how badly Caitlin may have struggled is not evident. (This LiveStats app has the capability to do that - the Shockers are just not "publishing" it.)

The Huskers get a two-out walk in the third. Laurie has a solo shot in the bottom of the third, her fourth homer of the year. Shockers now lead 4-1 after three.

[1972Shocker]

That was the ultimate duck-snort by Kaylee Hueker but it will look great in the box score.

[1972Shocker]

Can't believe the Huskers coach is arguing the obstruction call (if that is what she is arguing) one of the more obvious and blatant obstruction calls I have seen.

[1972Shocker]

That is something that I did not think I would see today. A home run to left-center. Madison cuts across and through the wind with a line drive 2-run home run over the left center field wall to cap off a 6-run outburst by the Shocks in the bottom of the 4th and they now lead 10-1. Now if Erin can get through one more Nebraska at bat in good shape the ladies can get out of the wind although the Shocks are handling it very well.

[1972Shocker]

Because of the weather conditions they will only play a single game today and will play a DH tomorrow starting at 1:00 (DAYLIGHT SAVINGS TIME).

[flyingMoose]

Nebraska has a one-out single in the fourth followed by a walk, but Erin gets two fly outs to keep the Huskers off the board.

In the bottom of the fourth, a bunt single by Asea and a walk to Ryleigh brings on Olivia Ferrell in relief, she of five appearances and three starts. She is greeted by a sac bunt, two-run double by Kaylee, an error by her that scores Kaylee, a sac bunt advancing Sydney, an rbi-single by Laurie and a two-run homer by Butters, her fourth blast of the year. Bailee grounds out to end the inning, but the Shocks lead 10-1 after four.

[flyingMoose]

A runs-ahead win although the Huskers get two singles with two outs in the top of the fifth. A family activity calls, so no summary from me.


Nebraska 1-10(5) Shockers

[1972Shocker]

A runs-ahead win although the Huskers get two singles with two outs in the top of the fifth. A family activity calls, so no summary from me.


Nebraska 1-10(5) Shockers

LIne Score:
Huskers 1-4-2-8
Shockers 10-7-0-0

Tough conditions and a rough start for Caitlyn. Kudos to Erin for rescuing Caitlyn and the Shocks with a stellar pitch-to-contact scoreless 4.2 innings allowing only 3 hits (2 with two outs in the 5th) and 2 walks. It looked like it was tough for the pitchers just to maintain their balance in the circle. Erin backed up by timely hitting and error-less defense on a tough day to play defense. 10 runs on only 7 hits and no runners left on base. It was only 4 at bats but no runners stranded is pretty efficient work.

Laurie, Butters, Asea, and Kaylee all coming through with 2 RBI each. Laurie with a wind-aided home run to right and Butters with wind-hindered home run to left center. Not sure you could hit a ball any harder. Kaylee's 2-run double was about as soft as they come but it came at a great time on a 3-2 count. The Shocks also did a good job of small ball in the big 6-run 4th inning. Asea led off the inning with a bunt single, and Neleigh and Wylie both had well-placed sacrifice bunts in the inning.

Just a good all-round performance by the Shocks, with perhaps the exception of Caitlyn's early difficulties, in tough conditions. Hopefully, Caitlyn will bounce back tomorrow and redeem herself. Maybe she can put Ryan's phone with the metronome app in her back pocket.

[flyingMoose]

Tough conditions and a rough start for Caitlyn.

Just a good all-round performance by the Shocks, with perhaps the exception of Caitlyn's early difficulties, in tough conditions. Hopefully, Caitlyn will bounce back tomorrow and redeem herself. Maybe she can put Ryan's phone with the metronome app in her back pocket.

One has to think Caitlin's issue now is largely mental if the metronome helped her in earlier weeks. The pressure of better competition has thrown her rhythm off, and she can't get it back. Easy for me to diagnose, BWDIK.

[WuDrWu]

"BWDIK"? Pretty much more than everyone else following this team here lol. Gotta like the result today. Kristi has this team firing right now.

[flyingMoose]

Caitlin was on a really short string today. It appears that the notion is that once Caitlin gets off track, she is unlikely to get it back together quickly if at all. Or perhaps HCKB thought the Husker pitching was reachable and did not want to give away any extra runs.

With a DH tomorrow, will Hailey get a chance to fill the gap if Caitlin stumbles again?

[1972Shocker]

With Derrico's home run, she moved up to second in program history for career home runs and is four home runs away from breaking the program record set by Cacy Williams (2014-16). After a two RBI day, the Sterling, Okla., native moved to fourth all-time in RBIs. She is six RBIs away from tying Britnee Barnett (2005-08) for third in program history.

[flyingMoose]

Game Two

It appears I will have the time to go see this one in person.

Caitlin has the start again for the Shockers, and Courtney Wallace (ERA of 5.69 and WHIP of 2.03 in two starts and six appearances) is in the circle for the Huskers.

[WuDrWu]

OMG I am disappointed that Kaylee Huecker's incredible stop didn't make SportsCenter. That was top notch.

[WuDrWu]

Wow, Caitlin throws 8 balls to start the game and it's Erin to relieve her....guess the App didn't work today.

[1972Shocker]

Something's not working. Caitlyn needs to figure it out soon. Back-to-Back starts she has only gotten 1 out and given up 3 runs on only 1 hit with the 5 walks killing her.

Nebraska plates both of Caitlyn;s walks the 1st inning today. Erin did a pretty good job working out of the mess left by Caitlyn for the 2nd game in a row.

Shocks bounce back with 2 runs in their half of the 1st and still had runners on 2nd and 3rd with not outs. Unfortunately, Asea, Ryleigh and Neleigh could not cash in and allow the Huskers to escape with the game tied at 2-2.

Shocks let back-to-back opposite field singles go to waste in the bottom of the 2nd. A failure by Wylie Glover to get a bunt down and move the runners over probably cost them a run and the Nebraska pitcher made a nice play to rob Laurie Derrico of a single up the middle.

Hopefully, they don't regret not taking advantage of these opportunities.

The failed to get a sac bunt down again after a lead off single by Kaylee and it looked like they might let another good scoring opportunity get away from them after a hit batter and error by the Huskers SS loaded the bases with 2 outs. However, on a 2-2 count Bailee Nickerson drove a pitch over the left fielders head that hit just under the white line onto of the fence to clear the bases and put the Shocks up 5-2. That would would have been a grand slam last year with the old fence. In any case, huge clutch hit by Bailee.

Ryleigh Buck lined a low and oustside pitch over the right field wall leading off the 5th to extend the Shocker lead to 6-2.

Erin McDonald finishes off a 7 inning scoreless, hitless relief performance allowing only 2 late walks, one of which was erased in a game ending double play. The 2nd consecutive outstanding pitch-to-contact performance against a quality opponent.

Final Line Score:
Huskers...2-0-2-1
Shockers.6-9-0-8

[flyingMoose]

Erin relieved with a 2-0 count of the third batter of the game. The subsequent walk is credited to Caitlin though.

The Shocks had a chance to get out of the first with no run scored. Kaylee caught a foul pop and then made a poor throw to the plate that bounced to Butters and allowed the run to score from third. If she takes the time to set her feet or if she gets under the pop up instead of drifting to it so her feet are already set, there is an almost sure chance to cut down that runner for the second out of the inning. The ensuing fly out would have been the third out of the inning.

The double by Bailee bounced past the left fielder back to the infield to allow Butters to score. Otherwise, not happening.

The game-ending double play was a nice stop very near second by Kaylee who got the DP after the force at second. Laurie was not involved. (But did Erin slow it down? I think so.) Laurie did make a nice play on a ball up the middle that was slowed by Erin. Erin's pitching is pretty unbelievable - great ball movement, some change of speeds, but not that much speed. I don't recall anything by the Huskers that looked like it might be a hit.

[1972Shocker]

Due to the change in schedule the 2nd game today will not be streamed by Cox Yurview.com. I will be audio and live stats only.

It wil be interesting to see who HCKB goes with in game 2. Will give Caitlyn another shot or will she go wit Haley Martinez.

[flyingMoose]

Hailey was warming up mid-game and Caitlin late in Game Two. Not sure if that says anything.