Shocker SB at UCF

[flyingMoose]

The Shockers continue their AAC schedule with a trip to Orlando to play UCF this Friday at 5pm, Saturday at 1pm, and Sunday at 11am, all times CT.

The Knight's record is 27-9, 6-0 with sweeps of UConn and ECU in conference play. Their record is only 1-6 against ranked teams, but at least they are willing to play somebody.

Virtually all of the pitching for UCF is done by Alea White and Brianna Vasquez with White having two-thirds more innings than Vasquez. White has an ERA of 1.46 and a WHIP of 1.11. The numbers for Vasquez are 1.55 and 0.91.

Only Tamesha Glover at 1.075 and Cassady Brewer at .933 have an OPS above .800. Glover's four home runs lead the team.

The record for the Shocks is 21-14, 2.4.

Butters (1.090 and seven homers) and Ryleigh (1.038 and five homers) lead the Shocker offense. Neleigh, Asea, and Laurie (five homers) all have an OPS of .900 or better.

Erin (3.54 and 1.24), Caitlin (3.17 and 1.56), Hailey (2.91 and 1.20) and now Lauren (5.73 and 1.97) - we all know the story in the circle.

[1972Shocker]

40% chance of afternoon Thunderstorms on Friday and Saturday but temps in the high 80's all 3 days. That should feel good to the Ladies.

[flyingMoose]

The current RPIs are 35 for UCF and 90 for the Shockers.

[1972Shocker]

Games available on KnightsTV. $5.99 for a day pass/$7.99 for a month.

Erin McDonald will get the start for the Shocks. Alea White as expected is in the circle for the Knights.

Looks like the Shocks have a bit of a involuntary shake up in the line up. In what might be some bad news Sr. CF Asea Webber is not in the lineup after tweaking her shoulder late in Game 2 of the Mizzou doubleheader.

Wylie moves over to CF, Bailie will be in LF and Adi Reese will bet the start in right field.

The Shocks draw 1st blood in the top of the 1st as Sidney doubled to left with 1 out and Butters, hitting in the 3-hole this game, drove her in with a single up the middle. Butters advanced to 2nd on the throw home but was stranded as Laurie and Neleigh struck out.

Erin gives up a lead off single in the bottom half of the 1st with that runner advancing to 3rd with 2 outs. A strike out ends the inning.

Shocks go down on 5 pitches in the 2nd. OTOH UCF has runners at 1st and 2nd in the bottom of the inning after 2 pitches. A single to left and a bunt single. A sac bunt moves the runners into scoring position with 1 out. A sac fly to center knots it up at 1-all. After getting ahead in the count 0-2 Erin gives up an RBI singled to right on a 2-2 count and UCF leads 2-1.

In the Shocker 3rd singles by Wylie and Sidney and walk to Butters load the bases with 1 out. Laurie popped up to short and Neleigh lined out to left. These are the kind of opportunities that are going uncashed to often lately. A hit batter to lead off the bottom of the 3rd followed by a sac bunt and a double extends UCF's lead to 3-1 after 3.

In the Shockers 5th Wylie led off with a walk and Ryleigh followed with a single to put runners at 1st and 2nd. However, Wylie was picked off by the UCF catcher and that took the wind out of the Shockers sails.

Mauriana Jamele, pinch hitting for Kaylee, to lead off the 7th singled to left. Kaylee re-entered to run. A passed ball and two ground outs later the Shocks had a run but are down to their last at bat. Sidney flied out to center to end the game with Butters on deck.

WSU 2-7-0-6
UCF 3-7-0-6

[1972Shocker]

Haven't had time to study the stats and P-B-P but teams were tied at 3-all after 7. Ryleigh reached on an error to start the 10th and Butters doubled her home. Laurie provided some insurance with a 2-run homer. Erin made it stand and the Shocks won 6-3.

[flyingMoose]

Haven't had time to study ... P-B-P ...

I finally figured out the bottom of the ninth when you need that. :)

[1972Shocker]

I finally figured out the bottom of the ninth when you need that. :)

Anytime.

[flyingMoose]

Anytime.

I now see that the game write-up on the Web site documents my notion, providing a telling detail. With runners at first and second, UCF attempted a sac bunt. The bunt was popped up (a Web site detail - the popped up bunt would hold the runners - a bunt cannot be an infield fly by rule), Butters fielded the ball and got the force out at third to Laurie who got the DP with a throw to Wylie who came in from center field to cover second.

[1972Shocker]

The Shocks only managed 6 hits in their Game 2 win in 10 innings vs 9 for UCF. 4 of the Shocker 6 runs were unearned as UCF committed 4 errors. OTOH only 1 of UCF's 3 runs was earned due to an error by Hailey and a Butters' passed ball. UCF stranded 11 runners (7 in scoring position) to 6 (3 in scoring position) for the Shockers.

Throw in the very unusual double play the Shocks pulled off in the bottom of the 9th and this was certainly an act Houdini would have been proud of.

Shocks pretty fortunate to come away with a win in this one. But it was certainly a badly needed win.

Here is a replay of the 9th inning double play:

https://twitter.com/i/status/1114628774874832900

Adi Reese also made a nice catch in right to end the 8th to keep the game going:

https://twitter.com/i/status/1114625712743485440

[1972Shocker]

Erin McDonald will get the start for the Shocks and Alea White for the Knights in the rubber game.

Mauriana Jamele earns a start at DP after successful pinch hitting appearances in each of the previous 2 games.

Asea conitnues to be missing from the lineup and if the Bailey Lange situation is any guide it may be a while until we hear anything about her situation.

UCF steals a run in the 1st to take a 1-0 lead. An infield single, a wild pitch, a sac bunt and a hit by pitch put runners on 1st and 3rd with 1 out. A double steal scored a run for UCF. After a strikeout a walk and then a wild pitch has runners on 2nd and 3rd for UCF but Erin got a pop up to short to end the inning. Not an encouraging start for Erin although she only allowed the 1 infield hit.

The Shocks tie it up in the top of the 2nd but perhaps should have had more. Mauriana lead of with a single up the middle. Bailee Nickerson walked. Adi Reese sacrificed the runners into scoring position. Then it got a bit crazy. Kaylee Huecker singled to left to score Mauriana but Bailee was thrown out LF to 3B and then Kaylee was out at second base 3B to SS. I assume Bailee must have had to hold up to see if Kaylee's hit was going to be caught or not.

Erin works a quick 1-2-3 bottom of the 2nd.

The Shocks let another really good opportunity slip through their hands in the 4th. A single to left by Laurie, a bunt single by Mauriana and a passed ball put runners on 2nd and 3rd with no outs. Bailee grounded to short with Laurie thrown out at the plate. Mauriana advanced to 3rd but Bailee was thrown out 2-4-3. Adi Reese popped out to end the inning.

In the top of the the 6th Butters said enough with the base running nonsense and homered to left leading off the inning. To outs later Bailee double to left center but was stranded when Adi flied out to left.

Erin gets two ground outs to the left side to open the bottom of the 6th before UCF gets another infield single to short (see 1st inning). Perhaps a ball in the hole between short and 3rd as UCF then inserted a pinch runner. That pinch runner was then caught stealing. Erin only needed 7 pitches. On to the 7th with the Shocks haning on to a slim 2-1 lead.

In the 7th it is 8-9-1 due for the Shocks. 5-6-7 are due up for the Knights.

The Shocks going down quietly and quickly in the top of the 7th.

Erin commits a potentially mortal sin walking the leading off hitter in the bottom of the 7th on a 3-2 count. Got to make things exciting I guess. Another unusual play the next batter, a pinch hitter, grounds out to Butters unassisted with no advance by the runner at 1st.. UCF insets another pinch hitter. For the 2nd time in the inning Erin walks a batter on a 3-2 count. Sounds like Erin may be tiring and it's affecting her command. UCF inserts a 3rd consecutive pinch hitter. A fly ball to left field gets the 2nd out but both runners advance and now the tying and winning runs are in scoring position. With the 9-hole hitter at the plate Erin goes to a 3-1 count before a line drive is caught by Kaylee Huecker at 2nd base to end the game.

Somehow, someway the Shocks won this series.

Erin was excellent today with the exception of the 1st inning and the 7th inning. Erin had 4 walks, a hit batter and 2 wild pitches today. 1 of the walks, the hit batter and both of the wild pitches game in the 1st and 2 of the walks in the 7th. In between Erin was lights out. She had just enough in the tank in the 7th after working 17.3 innings in the series to secure the win and overcome some Shocker keystone cops base running.

We've been ragging on the pitching quite a bit but have to give some credit to Erin and Hailey this is weekend giving up only 7 runs with Caitlyn notably not in the mix. Not sure how far Erin and Hailey can take us but kudos for a job well done this weekend.

[1972Shocker]

Butter's 6th inning game winner. Thought the UCF pitcher actually made a pretty good pitch on an 0-1 count. The ball was up and in and one the inside edge of the plate. I don't think the Shocks have anyone else on their team capable of squaring that pitch up and hitting it out of the park. Masterful work by the Shocks best player.

https://twitter.com/i/status/1114942421153005568

[flyingMoose]

Other AAC Series

Houston 1-2 Tulsa

ECU 0-3 USF

Memphis 1-2 UConn



Standings

7-2 UCF
7-2 Tulsa
7-2 USF
4-5 Shockers
4-5 UConn
3-6 Houston
3-6 Memphis
1-8 ECU