Shocker SB at Tulsa

[flyingMoose]

The Shockers continue their AAC schedule with games against Tulsa this weekend. The games are Friday at 7pm, Saturday at 2pm, and Sunday at noon.

The Golden Hurricane have a record of 31-15, 12-3, and are second to USF in the AAC. Among ranked opponents, they have wins over Arkansas and Oklahoma State. In conference, they have one loss against USF, Houston and ECU and have swept Memphis and UCF. Currently they are RV/#25 in the two polls. Their RPI is 22, highest of the AAC teams and almost assuring that they will be in the NCAA Tournament.

Using conference-only stats, the leaders on offense for Tulsa are Rylie Spell (OPS of 1.069 and three homers), Julia Hollingsworth (.949), and Chenise Delce (.917).

Three pitchers for the Golden Hurricane are within a few innings of each other in conference play. In order of games started, they are Samantha Pochop (ERA of 1.46 and WHIP of 0.86), Kassidy Scott (2.02 and 1.24), and Delce (1.75 and 0.94).

The record for the Shocks is now 28-21, 9-6. Their RPI is 77.

The offensive leaders for the Shockers are Ryleigh (1.292 and five homers), Butters (1.224 and three homers), and Sydney (1.010).

In the circle in order of innings pitched are Erin (2.56 and 1.36), Caitlin (4.01 and 1.76), and Hailey (3.86 and 1.29). Caitlin's recent outings have been encouraging, including the game yesterday against the Sooners.


An RH article that looks back at the OU game and forward to the Tulsa series.

[1972Shocker]

Looks like Tulsa has the advantage especially if you believe good pitching beats good hitting. But they play the games for a reason. :poster_shocks:

[flyingMoose]

The Friday game is on ESPNU if you get that channel. Me? I will have to look at the LiveStats when I get back to civilization.

[1972Shocker]

I get that channel but will be out-of-pocket (I think) for the biggest part of the game. Will probably watch the replay on WatchESPN later tonight.

[1972Shocker]

Change of plans. I should be able to watch this live.

[1972Shocker]

Pitcher's duel in Tulsa. Scoreless after 4 innings.

Kassidy Scott twirling for Tulsa and Erin McDonald for the Shocks.

[1972Shocker]

Shocks do some oppo damage in the top of the 5th. Bailee Nickerson led the inning with a frozen rope to right center for a double. Adi Reese bunted pinch runner Kassidee Eck to third. Lauren Mills grounded out to 2nd for out #2 with Kassidee holding at 3rd. Neleigh Herring picked up the Shocks with an opposite field blast well over the left field wall on a wind-less night. Shocks lead 2-0.

Loved seeing Bailee and Neleigh driving the ball with authority to the opposite field.

[1972Shocker]

In the bottom of the pitch Erin gets the 1st 2 batters but then hits a batter and gives up a single, Tulsa's 1st hit of the game bringing up Julia Hollingsworth, the top hitter in the AAC. The Shocks all but intentionally walked Hollingsworth. Erin jumped ahead of the next batter but then ended up with a full count before getting a fly ball to center to escape with the bases loaded.

[1972Shocker]

Shocks back at it in the 6th. Ryleigh Buck led off with a walk. Butters laid down a great bunt that the Tulsa 3rd baseman threw into right field putting runners at 1st and 3rd. Laurie Derrico hit a rope right at the left fielder with Ryleigh doing a great job of tagging and scoring. Adi Reese than takes an outside pitch down the right field line for double scoring Butters to put the Shocks up 4-0. Lauren lined out hard the left fielder with Bailee staying at 3rd. Tulsa made a pitching change to Pochop Neleigh due up. Neleigh made good contact but got under the ball just a little and flied out to the track in right center.

[1972Shocker]

A 2-out error in the bottom of the 7th on Ryleigh at 3rd gave Tulsa a runner but an infield pop to Neleigh ended the game with Hollingsworth on deck.

Erin was outstanding pitching a complete game, 1 hit shutout.

Bailee, Neleigh and Adi with the key hits, all well struck to the opposite field.

I assume Caitlin will be in the circle for the Shocks tomorrow.

[flyingMoose]

Game Two

Caitlin for the Shocks and Chenise Delce for Tulsa.

Caitlin managed to walk the bases loaded in the first with enough outs sprinkled in to keep the Golden Hurricane off the board.

Another walk and another stolen base for Tulsa in the second. Two stolen bases already is a bit surprising, because few teams run on Butters. In both cases two were out, so the Coach may have thought it worth the chance.

Caitlin issues a fifth walk but has yet to give up a hit. Neither has Delce. She has four strikeouts and four of the five outs have been hit to an oppo fielder. That may be because of her speed, or "letting the ball travel" may be an intended hitting approach. Still no score after three.

Ryleigh opens the Shocker fourth with a single, is moved to second with a sac bunt, but is left stranded.

Tulsa's first hit goes over the fence in right-center. Tulsa leads 1-0 after four.

Adi has an infield single to start the fifth but is still there three outs later. Still 1-0 after five.

Top of the order to start the sixth for the Shockers. Sydney singles, advances to second on a sac bunt and to third on an error on Butters' ground ball. First and third with one out. With Laurie at the plate, the Shockers execute a double steal with Kasidee, the pinch runner for Butters, on the back end. Tie game. Laurie follows with a homer to center, and the Shocks take a 3-1 lead to the bottom of the sixth.

The game is soon tied. With one out, the Golden Hurricane double and homer. A bunt single and stolen base puts a runner in scoring position. After a flyout, a single puts Tulsa back on top and brings Erin to the circle. Tulsa leads 4-3 after six.

Neleigh-Wylie-Sydney in the top of the seventh for the Shockers. Neleigh walks, but Wylie's sac bunt attempt turns into a force out. Two ground outs follow, and Tulsa takes the second game of the series.


Shockers 3-4 Tulsa

Caitlin pitched reasonably well until the sixth. She gave up four runs on five hits and six walks. She had five strikeouts. Only four hits and two walks for the Shockers with Laurie's two-run homer the only extra-base hit.

[1972Shocker]

The Shocks have absorbed a couple of very tough and damaging mid-series losses recently now with today's 4-3 loss to Tulsa and last weeks 3-2 loss to ECU.

[1972Shocker]

Game Three

The Shocks could not get much going today against Samantha Pochop managing only 3 hits, one a solo home run by Ryleigh Buck in the top of the 4th for the Shockers only run. The Shockers did load the bases in the top of the 7th after Butters struck out looking and Laurie struck out swinging on a walk, infield single and a hit batter but Lauren fouled out to 3rd base to end the game. The Shocks only left one other runner on base during the first 6 innings.

Erin McDonald went the distance for the Shocks and actually did pitch pretty well giving up 3 runs on 6 hits and 1 walk and striking out 7.

But the Shocks lost this series in Game 2 when the could not hold a 3-1 lead heading into the bottom of the 6th.

The Shocks are now just playing for seeding position in the AAC Tournament. The best the Shockers could do is finish 3rd but with first place USF coming to town next weekend the Shocks may be challenged to hang on to 4th.

[flyingMoose]

Other Weekend Series

Memphis 0-3 USF
The biggest winning margin for USF was two runs.

Houston 2-1 UCF

UConn 3-0 ECU


Standings

16-2 USF
14-4 Tulsa
10-7 Houston
10-8 Shockers
8-10 UCF
7-11 UConn
3-14 Memphis
3-15 ECU

The series for next weekend other than USF at Shockers are Tulsa at UConn, ECU at Houston, and UCF at Memphis.