Shocker SB at 'Bama Bash

[flyingMoose]

The Shockers travel to Tuscaloosa this weekend to continue their season at the ‘Bama Bash. Games Friday are at 130 pm against Louisville and at 4 pm against Alabama. Opponents Saturday are Louisville at 11 am and Penn State at 6 pm. The Shockers close out the Bash with another game versus Penn State at 11 am on Sunday.

Louisville are a member of the Atlantic Coast Conference where they are a preseason pick for fifth among the thirteen teams. Celene Funk was named to the Preseason All ACC Team but has done nothing in the first two weekends. Taylor Roby has an OPS of 1.285 and four homers, while Cassady Greenwood is at 1.106. Taylor Roby has just over half of the innings in the circle with an ERA of 1.91 and WHIP of 1.27. Chardonnay Harris has just over a quarter of the innings with numbers of 7.14 and 2.41. The Cardinals have a record of 2-7 with a win over ranked Ole Miss the first weekend and a win (and a loss) against Wisconsin in the ACC/Big Ten Challenge last weekend. They had two losses to ranked Michigan in the Challenge. The first weekend also included a loss to Texas State, 7-3, and a loss to Missouri, a future Shocker opponent, by the score of 5-1.

Alabama began the season ranked first in the preseason polls and is the preseason pick to win the SEC. Their current record is 4-5. The first weekend they were 1-3 at Florida State, losing both their games to the #9 Seminoles, one by run-rule. This past weekend, they were 3-2 at the St. Pete/Clearwater Invitational. Among the wins were run-rule wins over both #1 Washington and USF. The losses were to #3 UCLA and Oklahoma State who is also ranked. The Crimson Tide is currently ranked #10. Their stats are not that impressive for a national-class team until you consider that they are playing a national-class schedule. Kaylee Tow (.891), Alexis Mack (.848), and Bailey Hemphill (.843) have the best OPS. Pitchers with the most innings are freshman Lexi Kilfoyl (ERA of 2.84 and WHIP of 1.49) and sophomore Montana Fouts (4.88 and 2.20).

Penn State belong to the “we don’t believe in no stinkin’ preseason stuff” Big 10. They were the #10 seed in last year’s conference tournament, losing in the first round. The current record for the Nittany Lions is 5-5, playing five games each at tournaments hosted by Florida International and UCF. You would recognize the names of the schools played, but not because of their softball programs. Penn State did not play UCF at that tournament. Kaitlyn Morrison (OPS of 1.147) and Kennedy Legg (1.060) lead the offense, but there is a distinct drop-off after those two. About half of the innings in the circle belong to Bailey Parshall (ERA of 2.51 and WHIP of 1.13) and another quarter belong to Vanessa Oatley (2.42 and 1.40).

The Shockers are now 5-6 on the season. All five of the wins have been by run-rule, indicating seeing some weak pitching. That notion is reflected in the OPS, four above 1.00 and three more above .900. Neleigh at 1.300 and four homers leads the list. The pitching remains a bit of a question mark. In order of innings pitched: Bailey (ERA of 5.12 and WHIP of 1.69), Erin (6.26 and 2.11), and Caitlin (3.57 and 1.64).


The four games against Louisville and Penn State may give us a better idea of where this team is.

[flyingMoose]

Game One

Shockers v Louisville

The Cardinals just completed a no-hit, 9-0 win over Penn State in five innings, exploding with seven runs in the top of the fifth. Harris was in the circle for Louisville.

Caitlin is in the circle for the Shocks, and Roby for Louisville. LoLo is the DP with the rest of the normal lineup.

Sydney opens the game with a single and moves to second on a sac bunt by Ryleigh but goes no further.

Caitlin opens the bottom half by issuing a four-pitch walk, and the runner promptly steals second and advances to third on a wild pitch. Another walk, another steal. A single, driving in two runs, is followed by a bunt single and a double steal! This is not like Butters, or perhaps the Cardinals are full of speed merchants. Still nobody out. With one out, a squeeze bunt gets another run home. With runners at first and third, a double steal scores the fourth run of the inning. A groundout scores another, and the single that follows brings Erin to the circle. With the way the inning is going, it is no surprise when she hits the first batter she faces. A fly out ends the carnage. Louisville, 5-0 after one. Six! stolen bases in the inning.

No baserunners in the Shocker second. Another run for the Cardinals in the second. Another steal, too. 6-0 Louisville after two.

And after three.

Two more runs for Louisville in the fourth, and the Shockers need to score in the fifth to extend the game. Butters did throw out somebody attempting to steal.

LoLo gets a one-out walk in the fifth, only the second Shocker baserunner in the game. Kaylee adds a two-out single, but Wylie grounds out to end the game.


Shockers 0-8(5) Louisville

Singles by Sydney and Kaylee are the only Shocker offense.

Caitlin faced eight batters and gave up four hits, two walks, and five runs. In her 3.1 innings, Erin gave up five hits, four walks, and three runs.


Because of Tuscaloosa radio commitments, I do not anticipate the game with Alabama starting before the scheduled 4pm.

[flyingMoose]

Game Two

Shockers at #10/13 Alabama

Bailey is in the circle, and LoLo continues as the DP. Kilfoyl is the pitcher for the Crimson Tide.

The game is live here.

Butters has a walk in the first.

At least four illegal pitches against Bailey on the first batter. She walks and steals second. Another illegal pitch is ball four on the second batter. She is not dragging her foot away from the pitching rubber, lifting it just barely off the ground. A single scores a run. Three nice changes that are all called strikes. Illegal pitch calls, lots of them. On the replay, you can see that the calls are legit, sometimes more than barely off the ground. Bailey just cannot get her push under control. Erin is on with the bases loaded and one out. Walk, single, error, another single. Seven runs on three hits, four walks, and the error. 7-0, 'Bama after one.

First time I have heard Bailey U's last name pronounced. The announcer's accent is on the second syllable, assuming he knows what he is doing. Three up, three down in the Shocker second.

Double, single (charitable scoring - looked like an error to me) and another run for the Tide. Hey, a caught stealing. A walk, hit batter and four-pitch walk and Caitlin is in the circle. Four more runs eventually for 'Bama. Now 11-0. I think Coach Patrick will be emptying the bench soon.

The color commentator is a former pitcher for Alabama and is doing a very nice job. Also, everyone is bundled up. Temp of 47.

Kaylee drops the barrel on a low, inside pitch and drives it over the left-field wall. After Wylie reaches on an error, Sydney draws a four-pitch walk. Two strikeouts follow before Neleigh reaches on a ground ball that could have been scored a single, but wasn't. Wylie scored on the play. 11-2 in the middle of the third.

A walk and a ball on the next batter, and Morgan comes out to chew on Caitlin. To no avail - Caitlin finishes a four-pitch walk. But then she gets a force out and a ground ball double play started by Kaylee to end the inning. 11-2 after three.

Nobody on in the Shocker fourth.

The Tide leadoff reaches on an error, a ball that Bailee ran a long way for and could not corral. A two-out double drives home the runner. 'Bama scores another before the third out is recorded. 13-2 after four.

Sydney nubs one down the third-base line for a one-out single, but two ground outs end the game.


Shockers 2-13(5) Alabama

Two hits for the Shockers, the home run by Kaylee being the big one.

Bailey was tormented by her illegal pitches and only went one-third of an inning. Both Erin and Caitlin followed with Caitlin's effort being decent against a team at this level - three hits, four walks, and no earned runs in 2.2 innings.

[Bossdawg1305]

Singles were by Sydney and Kaylee

[flyingMoose]

Singles were by Sydney and Kaylee

Yes, saw that earlier and corrected it. Thanks.

[flyingMoose]

Other Friday

Louisville 9-0(5) Penn State

Penn State 0-5 Alabama

[1972Shocker]

Not looking good.

[flyingMoose]

Not looking good.

Not at all. Penn State used four different pitchers to keep giving Alabama different looks and only lost, 5-0. The Nittany Lions may be a strong challenge for the Shocks.

[flyingMoose]

Game Three

Louisville v Shockers

Erin in the circle for the Shocks and Harris for Louisville. Some lineup changes for the Shockers: LoJo is in center field, and the batting order is shuffled a bit. Bailee is sitting.

In the first, a leadoff double and a two-out double scores a run for the Cardinals. With one out, Bailey U homers to tie the game. Butters follows with a double but goes no further. 1-1 after one.

In the Shocker second, Ryleigh has a leadoff single, steals second and advances on a two-out bunt single by Wylie, but the inning ends with a groundout.

A single, sac bunt, and single scores a run for the Cardinals with nobody out in the third. A later single scores another run. 3-1 Louisville after three complete.

LoJo singles and later steals second with two outs, but Wylie cannot get her home. 3-1 after four.

An error and a single to leadoff the Louisville fifth, but the single is out trying to make it a double. A runner on third with one out, but Erin eases out of the inning.

In the Shocker fifth, Bailey U and Madison have back-to-back doubles to score a run. One out later, LoLo drives an 0-2 pitch over the wall in center to score two runs and give the Shocks the lead. 4-3 Shockers after five.

A walk, single and walk load the bases with one out for the Cardinals in the sixth. Ths Shocks get a forceout at home, but an infield single ties the game. A hit batter brings in a run and brings on Hailey. Another walk and another run, and an error scores yet another. 8-4 Louisville as we go to the bottom of the sixth. Shocks needed one out to get out of the inning tied, but five runs score.

Roby is in the circle for Louisville. A single by Kaylee for the Shocks but no runs. 8-4 after six full.

Butters singles with one out in the Shocker last. With two outs, LoLo singles, but a groundout ends the game.


Louisville 8-4 Shockers

Eleven hits for the Shocks: three by Butters and two each for Bailey U and LoLo. Bailey had a homer and double and LoLo had her homer. Butters had two doubles.

Eight runs, six earned, against Erin who yielded eight hits, three walks, and a hit batter.

[flyingMoose]

Game Four

Shockers v Penn State

The Nittany Lions just lost to Alabama, 14-6 in six innings. 'Bama started their #3, and Penn State put up a five-spot in the first inning.

Caitlin in the circle for the Shocks. Bailee is back in center field in this game. I wonder if Bailey is working on her illegal pitch issue on the side. Oatley, a lefty, is pitching for Penn State.

Sydney singles in the first. Bailey forces her out and then steals second, but no runs. A single, walk and sac bunt starts the bottom half for Penn State. Caitlin strikes out the next two batters to end the threat.

Still no score after three.

The Shockers load the bases with no outs in the fourth: Bailey U infield single, Butters fielder's choice where everyone is safe, and a single by LoLo. Neleigh grounds into an infield forceout that scores Bailey. Ryleigh follows with a three-run shot over the wall in left. Bailee singles and advances on an outfield error. The Nittany Lions make a pitching change. A Sydney single scores Bailee. Shockers lead 5-0 after four complete.

In the fifth, LoLo walks and LoJo pinch runs. She scores after singles by Neleigh and Bailee.

Bailey enters the circle for the Shockers to start the bottom of the fifth. Three up, three down. 6-0 Shocks after five.

Mckenzie pinch-hits for Wylie and leads off the sixth with a single. Wylie re-enters and steals second. After a sac bunt, a groundout by Bailey U scores Wylie. Butters follows with a double and comes home on a single by Bailey. 8-0 as we go to the bottom of the sixth.

Strikeout, groundout, groundout, ball game.


Shockers 8-0(6) Penn State

Caitlin goes four innings, giving up one hit and one walk and no runs with four strikeouts to get the win. Bailey retires six straight to end the game. Just one hit for Penn State!

Among the eleven hits for the Shocks are two singles apiece for Sydney and Bailee, and a three-run homer by Ryleigh.

[1972Shocker]

Where are you getting your info. I'm not getting any live stats?

[1972Shocker]

That's more like it. Perhaps the best game of the season. Good to see Caitlyn having a little success and hopefully Bailey is back on track.

[flyingMoose]

Where are you getting your info. I'm not getting any live stats?

Sorry, just now seeing this. The normal way, although I probably used the LiveStats link from the Alabama site. The Tide uses Sidearm which I despise. I much prefer StatBroadcast. (I use LiveStats as a generic term.) Sidearm uses the same screen over and over and over. The Shocker-Penn State stats will stay up until the Penn State-Shocker game begins in the morning. Once the latest game starts, there is no link to the previous game. You can only see stats for that previous game when a boxscore is finally posted. When games are back-to-back-to-back during the day, it can take a while for an SIO staff to get a boxscore link in their schedule. Ugh!

[flyingMoose]

Game Five

Penn State v Shockers

I will probably miss the first couple of innings of this game.

[1972Shocker]

I will probably miss the first couple of innings of this game.

Lucky you. Bailey Lange starts in the circle. 1 out and 5 runs later Caitlyn Bingham is on in relief.

Penn State leads 5-0 after 1.

I am beginning to thing that leg injury Bailey sustained last year has caused some permanent impairment for Bailey.

Shocks dent the scoreboard in the 2nd thanks to a 2-out double by Kayla Huecker followed by a Wylie Glover single making 5-1 after 2.

A lead off double by Bailey Urban and a 2-out triple by Neleigh Herring produce a run in the bottom of the 3rd for the Shockers. Following a walk to Ryleigh Buck, Baylee Nickerson lined out to 3rd to end the inning. Shocks edging back into the game now trail 5-2 after 3.

A Kaylee Huecker triple and a Wyie Glover sac fly produce another run for the Shocks to make it a 5-3 game after 4.

Crazy ending to the top of the 5th. Not sure I can decipher the live stats description or not. Penn State had runners on 1st and 2nd with 1 out. My interpretation is that on a single to left the runner on second was thrown out at home and the runner on 1st was thrown out trying to make it to 3rd on the throw home.

In the bottom of the 5th Lauren Mills reached on an error, Neleigh Herring singled up the middle and Ryleigh Buck walked to load the bases with not outs. Bailee Nickerson then delivered a bases clearing double to give the Shocks a 6-5 lead. Kaylee Huecker reach safely on an infield single moving Bailee to 3rd. A singled to center by Wylie Glover socred Bailee making it 7-5. A sac bunt by Sydney McKinney moved Kaylee and Wylie over to 2nd and 3rd with 1 out. Kaylee scored on a wild pitch with Wylie moving over to 3rd making it 8-5. Bailey Urban and Maddison Perrigan grounded out leaving Wylie stranded at 3rd. The Shocks take the lead 8-5 after 5.

Caitlyn finishes off an excellent 6.2 innings of scoreless, 5 hit, 1 walk relief that held Penn State in check as the Shocks gradually crept back into the game and then took the lead with their 5 run outburst in the 5th as the Shocks big up a nice come from behind 8-5 win.

Kaylee Huecker went 3-3 scoring twice, Wylie Glover was 2-2 with 3 RBI, Neleigh Herring was 2-4 with a run scored and and RBI and while Bailee Nickerson was only 1-4 she made it count as her bases loaded 3-run double was the game winning hit giving the Shocks a 6-5 lead. The bottom of the lineup got the job done in this game.