Shocker SB at #14/12 Oklahoma State

[flyingMoose]

The Shockers travel to Stillwater on Wednesday for a single game against Oklahoma State. The start time is 6pm. This is the first part of a home-and-home series these two teams have played in recent years.

Oklahoma State is the preseason pick for third in the Big 12, just behind Texas. Their current record is 18-5 with a 5-4 record against ranked teams. Among common opponents, the Cowgirls have wins over Alabama and Drake and have a loss against Missouri. The best OPS belong to Alysen Febry (1.450 and eleven homers), Kiley Naomi (1.218 and eight), and Sydney Pennington (1.117 and six). Most of the starts belong to Carrie Eberle (ERA of 0.51 and WHIP of 0.91) and Kelly Maxwell (1.51 and 0.95). Logan Simunek (2.40 and 1.40) has also seen significant time in the circle.

The Shockers are now 11-15 for the season and are the only AAC team below .500 pre-conference. There are five Shocks with an OPS above 1.000: Butters (1.181 and seven homers), Bailey (1.100), Neleigh (1.067 and five homers), Sydney (1.040) and Bailee (1.039). Stat lines for the pitchers are: Caitlin (ERA of 4.71 and WHIP of 1.71, Bailey (6.09 and 1.82) and Erin (6.53 and 2.14).

With Erin surprisingly being taken out of a game mid-inning on Friday and making no further appearances this past weekend, the likelihood of an injury of some sort seems high. Hailey has made just two appearances (for something like eight batters) this season. Is she a potential red-shirt? Is she judged not to be able to compete at this level? If Mckenzie ever gets on the field, I think it is in the outfield, not in the circle. Obviously the pitching has been a major disappointment this year, and there have to be a lot of questions but apparently no answers at this point.

[Bossdawg1305]

Surprisingly? 1 & 2/3 innings and gave up 3 runs. I think they just couldn’t get Caitlin warmed up fast enough. Erin was getting hit hard during those 1 & 2/3rds.

[flyingMoose]

Surprisingly? 1 & 2/3 innings and gave up 3 runs. I think they just couldn’t get Caitlin warmed up fast enough. Erin was getting hit hard during those 1 & 2/3rds.

You may be right, but ...

1st: strikeout, double, double, strikeout, walk, double, strikeout
2nd: lineout, strikeout, ... Gone

Nobody out and no base runners this inning? Pulled after a strikeout?

Nine batters: four strikeouts v three doubles and a lineout. I wasn't watching this via anything - maybe the strikeouts included hard-hit foul line drives.

And Erin did not get another chance the whole weekend?

Some say to-ma-to, some say to-mah-to.

[flyingMoose]

Butters make the AAC Honor Roll off her performance during the KU Tournament.

[flyingMoose]

Shockers at Oklahoma State

Bailey is in the circle and the recent "defensive" lineup is being used: Ryleigh at first, Sydney N at second, Sydney at third, and Neleigh as the DP for Sydney N. Eberle is the pitcher for the Cowgirls. She played her first three years at Virginia Tech.

The actual poll rankings for Oklahoma State are #13/11. They can be slow getting posted, and I can be a bit hasty.

Sydney leads off the game with a single. Butters ends the inning by lining into an unassisted DP by the first baseman. A two-out single is all the Cowgirls can muster. No score after one.

Neleigh is hit by a pitch with two outs in the second but goes no further. The Oklahoma State lead-off reached on an error and advanced to second on a wild pitch with one out. Two strikeouts follow, giving Bailey three on the inning and four early in the game. Still no score after two. For two innings, at least, against quality competition, this is the Bailey we were hoping to see this year.

Okay, gone for the duration probably. Someone can take over if they care to.

[Bossdawg1305]

Shockers down 4-1 after 4th inning. Lange pitching well through 4. Shockers have 4 errors that cost them 3 runs. Defense hasn’t showed up tonight. Should be 1-0 (solo HR by OSU).

[flyingMoose]

Shockers 0-5 Oklahoma State
Three Shocker errors in the fourth led to three unearned runs for the Cowgirls.

Shockers get only two hits with Neleigh adding a double in the seventh to Sydney's first-inning single. Bailey pitched well, giving up two earned runs on seven hits and no walks. She had seven strikeouts. Hopefully, some adjustment has been made and this is the Bailey we will see for the rest of her senior year.

Bailey and Eberle squared off last year when Eberle was pitching for Virginia Tech. That was an 11-3(5) victory for VT.