Shocker SB v East Carolina

[flyingMoose]

The Shockers open their AAC schedule by hosting East Carolina for four games this weekend. A single game on Friday starts at 5 pm, a DH on Saturday begins at 2 pm, and the series closes with another single game on Sunday with a noon start time.

The Pirates have a season record of 9-13. They have played #18 Georgia twice and RV James Madison three times, losing all five games with several of them being close. In the preseason poll, they are a pick for sixth place of the seven teams playing softball in the AAC.

The offense for ECU is led by Rachel McCollom (OPS of 1.049) and Chandley Garner (.995 and seven homers). Kama Woodall (ERA of 3.55 and WHIP of 1.49) has over half of the starts. The other pitchers are Erin Poepping (2.72 and 1.69) and Logyn Estes (5.11 and 1.62).

The Shockers are now RV in the NCAA Coaches Poll. Their record is 17-4.

The best OPS for the Shocks belong to Neleigh (1.422 and five homers), Addison (1.301 and nine homers), and Butters (1.188 and eight homers).

In the circle, Bailey has an ERA of 1.37 and a WHIP of 1.12, Erin is 3.28 and 1.18, and Caitlin is 2.33 and 1.30.

[1972Shocker]

Unrelated to this weekend's series but UCF picked up a nice mid-week win on Wednesday with an 8-6 at home over #5 Florida. UCF also shut out #2 Arizona at home 2-0 earlier this month.

[1972Shocker]

Nice Roundhouse Podcast interview of Assistant Coach Elizabeth Economon.

https://wichitastate.tv/podcast/roundhouse-podcast-with-wichita-state-assistant-softball-coach-elizabeth-economon/

[1972Shocker]

RH: Freshman Among Top AAC Power Hitters

https://goshockers.com/news/2021/3/25/the-roundhouse-rh-freshman-among-top-aac-power-hitters.aspx

"In the fall, we knew she was a good athlete, knew she was fast, she had a lot of really positive things in her swing," coach Kristi Bredbenner said. "We didn't anticipate her coming in and having the home run power that she had right off the bat."

Barnard was one of those with modest expectations. In the fall, she looked at Wichita State's experienced infielders and hoped to help by running the bases. She said it surprised her when coaches told her to be prepared to play in the days leading up to the February opener.

"I knew they had a lot of older people coming back," she said. "I might have to take on a role, whatever is best for the team. I like to run fast, so if I can be a great base-runner for them, that's what I'm going to do. I'm going to work my tail off to get on the field somehow."

Barnard ranks first in the American Athletic Conference with an .870 slugging percentage, second with nine home runs and 25 batted in and third with 20 runs and 11 walks. She is hitting .315 and leads the Shockers with three stolen bases.

Barnard committed to Wichita State as a sophomore after a visit and didn't consider another school. She grew up with a group of six friends in Beatrice who played all the sports, twice finishing second in Class B softball and once in basketball. She earned a silver medal in the triple jump and sprinted for Beatrice High.

"We had known each other for a long time and had a great connection," she said. "No matter what sport – if it was our favorite or not – just being together made it better. I just loved doing it."

Barnard felt that same atmosphere during her visit to Wichita State. She wanted to find a college close to home and focus on the rest of her high school days.

"Kansas is just like Nebraska and it feels like home," she said. "I loved the coaching staff and they were always welcoming."

[1972Shocker]

A bit of a keystone cops start for ECU's defense.

A 4-pitch walk to Sidney. A throwing error on a chopper to 3rd by Addison on a 3-2 count with the runners moving to 2nd and 3rd, a wild throw by the ECU first baseman attempting to get Addison going to 2nd allowed Sidney to score and Addison to go to 3rd. A 5 pitch walk to Butters put runners on 1st and 3rd. The ECU pitcher got out of that jam by serving up a pitch Neleigh made a nonrefundable deposit of on the other side of the centerfield wall. Shocks jump out to a 4-0 lead.

Bailey Lange in the circle for the Shocks. So far so good. A 1 out walk reached 3rd in the 1st inning after a ground out and a stolen base but was stranded there.

Shocks ended up batting around in the 1st. A bunt single by Sidney, a sharp single up the middle by Addison and a wild pitch that only got about 5 feet way from the catcher put runners at 2nd and 3rd. Butters delivered the Shockers 5th with a sac fly to center. Neleigh and Ryleigh walked to load the bases with 1 out. A Bailee Nickerson sac fly to center scored Addison. Camryn popped out to end the inning. Shocks lead 6-0.

BaileyL worked around a lead off walk and a 2-out batter with solid fielding support from her defense in the top of the 3rd.

In the Shocker 3rd a single to center by Kaylee followed 1-out later by a single to center (could have been ruled an error on the shortstop) put runners on the corners. Addison walked to load the bases and Butters walked to force in a run. Sidney scored on a wild pitch with Addison and Butters moving to 2nd and 3red. Neliegh struck out but Ryleigh picked her up with a ringing double to right center to score Addison and Butters easily. Before BaileeN flied out to left to end the inning. Shocks plate 4 and extend the lead to 10-0.

A one out frozen rope to the wall in left center for a double in the 4th ended BaileyL's no-hitterm One out later she lost the shutout on what looked like a relatively routing ground was booted by Camryn who picked it up dived to the bag in an unsuccessful attempt to beat the runner to the bag. In the meantime the runner from 2nd scored without a play. Shocks 10- ECU 1.

Camryn led off the Shocker 4th with a walk. Kaylee ripped an 0-2 pitch just inside the bag at 3rd and into the left field corner for a double with Camryn advancing to 3rd. BaileyU, in the 9 hole, walked to load the bases. Sidney hit a slow chopper to a drawn in 2nd baseman but a hustling Camryn beat the throw to the plate. Addison struck out on a bit of a questionable call but at this point not surprising to see the strike zone expand a bit. Butters absolutely torched a line drive directly over the leftfielders head. Hit just below the white line at the top of the wall. Just did not quite get the ball elevated enough or that would have been long grand slam. As ti was it was 2-run double. Neleigh singled to center scoring Sidney with Butters taking third and then Neleigh advanced to 2nd on the throw to the plate. Ryleigh struck but BaileeL picked her up with a double to the wall in left center scoring Butters and Neliegh. Mercifully, LoLo, pinch hitting for Camryn, struck out to end the inning. Let's where's my caluclator. Okay Shocks lead 16-1 after 4.

Hailey Martinez on to pitch for the Shocks in the 5th. Probably a good move to save BaileyL especially after the long half inning in the dugout in the 4th. Hailey hit the first batter she faced, got a grounder to short for force at 2nd, a strike out, a walk then made a nice snag of a one hopper for the toss to first to end the game.

ECU 1-1-2-6
Shocks 16-2-1-6

Not sure who the player of the game should be. ECU was just not very good in this one. Not only did the Shockers crank out 16 hits in 4 innings they also walked 9 times. It is actually a bit surprising that the Shocks only had 1 homer in this game. BTW, don't look now but Kaylee Huecker was 2-2 plus a walk raising her BA to .333. That's quite a nice bonus to get form the Shocker's slick fielding 2nd baseman. Hpefully, she can keep it going.

[flyingMoose]

Addison struck out on a bit of a questionable call but at this point not surprising to see the strike zone expand a bit.

This is the guy that has a maximal D-I zone no matter where you are in a game.

[1972Shocker]

This is the guy that has a maximal D-I zone no matter where you are in a game.

I didn't think it was so bad overall. If it was, what does that say about the ECU ptiching giving up 9 walks in 4 innings of work.

[1972Shocker]

Game 2 of 4

Shocks back at it again today. Erin McDonald in the circle for the Shocks.

Erin gave up a 2-out double to left in the top of the 1st but nothing elses. In the bottom half of the inning the first 6 Shockers have reach base with 4 of them scoring before Camryn Compton lined into a double play folowed by Kaylee Huecker striking out. But the Shocks match their start in Game 1 and lead 1-0 after 1.

In the second a walk, a single followed by 2 strikeouts and a hit batter loaded the bases for ECU but a liner to right was caught to end the inning. In the Shokcer half Addison and Butters reached on a walk and single with 2 outs but Neleigh lined out to 3rd to end the inning and the Shockers fail to score in an inning against ECU for the 1st time in the series.

In the 3rd inning a lead off single and a 2 out homerun by ECU closes the gap to 4-2. Shocks down in order in the bottom half of the inning . ECU probably feels like they are in the game for the first time in the series.

Erin hit batter with 2 outs in the 4th but that runner was called out for interference when they were struck by a ball hit by the next batter. Kaylee led of the Shocker 4th with a home run to left. Shocks lead 5-2 after 4 innings.

In the top of the 5th Erin duplicates the 3rd inning giving up a single and home run to make it 5-4.

In the bottom of the 5th the Shocks loaded the bases on a single, hit by pitch, sac bunt and a walk. Kaylee ground toward short on a ball that looked like it would score a run and probably not hard hit enough for a double play. I could not quite tell what the call was. I think the 3rd base ump called Ryleigh, who was on second, out for interfering with the shortstop but the 2nd base umpire perhaps ruled she was tagged out and the shortstop threw to 2nd for the double play. ECU's defense had headed to the dugout. After a conference apparently they had ruled Ryleigh out of interference at which point the play was dead. The runner at 3rd who had crossed the plate was returned to 3rd and it was now bases loaded and 2 outs. Jessica Garcia pinch hit for Bailey Urban and after falling behind in the count at 1-2 she worked an 8 pitch walk to force in a run. Sydney then walked on 4 straight pitches to walk in another run and the Shocks lead was back to 3 at 7-4.

In the top of the 6th Erin had her first 1-2-3 inning of the game on only 11 pitches.

In the 7th Erin gave up a 1 out single to center to the 2 hole hitter Ashleigh Inae. Inae also singled in front of the 2-run homers in the 3rd and in the 5th but Erin was up to the task as she struck out the #3 and #4 ECU hitters to end the game.

ECU 4-7-0-6
WSU 7-9-0-8

A lot tougher game than Game 1 but the Shocks did just with its pitching and hitting plus a little charity from ECU with 7 more walks and a hit batter in this game.

[1972Shocker]

Game 3 of 4

Caitlyn Bingham in the circle of the Shocks in Game 3 of the series. An error on a do or die infield chop by Kaylee Huecker (could easily have been scored an infield single and maybe should have been) followed by a hard short that ricocheted off of Camryn Compton's glove at 1sr for a single followed by a strikeout, a sac bunt and a walk loaded the bases for ECU with 2 outs in the 1st. Caitlyn got a shallow fly ball to left field to escape. The Shocker got runners to 1st and 3rd with 2 outs without the benefit of a hit but Ryleigh popped out to 1st near the stands to end the inning.

The first two ECU batters reached base again in the top of the 2nd on a walk and a single. Eventually, the runners reached 2nd and 3rd with 2 outs. Ashleigh Inae, who pretty much has been feating on the Shocker pitchers today, grounded out to 2nd to end the inning. Not an ideal way to go about your business in the circle by Caitlyn. Shocks go down 1-2-3 in the 2nd.

Caitlyn is back at it in the 3rd. This time she at least got an out before give up the walk and the single. A grounder to 3rd advanced the runner to 2nd but the runner at 3rd held on. Caitlyn got a strike out to end the inning. 7 runners stranded, 6 of them in scoring position in 3 innings. It took the ECU pitcher to get the first 2 Shocker hitters in the bottom of the 3rd but her fifth pitch was launched over the flying W just to the left of center field to put the Shocks up 1-0. A position they are very lucky to be in.

Caitlyn gets it done more or less the easy way in the 4th. An easy grounder to 3rd, an easy ground to 1st, a bunt single, and easy grounder to 2nd. So far the Shocks only hit of the game is Addison's 3rd inning homer. Neleigh led of the Shocker 3rd with a walk, Ryleigh bunted her to second. Bailee grounded a ball up the middle that the ECU 2nd basemen made a diving stop on and was able to throw Bailee out at 1st with Neleigh moving to 3rd. Camryn grounded out sharply to the 2nd baseman to end the inning.

Caitlyn gave up a 1-out solo homer to left in the top of the 5th. Thankfully, she waited until the bases were empty. After a strike out ECU gets a double to right field so they have another runner in scoring position. Caitlyn falls behind in the count at 3-1 but comes back to get an inning ending strike out. Unless the Shocks can put up a crooked number, and they are showing no signs of doing that, HCKB may have to turn to Bailey Lange to try to hold the fort.

The Shocks are halfway to a crooked number. Kaylee lined a double to the wall at the flying W just to the right of center. Lauren Lucas bunted her to 3rd and was safe on a fielder's choice as the pitcher tired to get Kaylee at 3rd. I wonder is she knew that was not a force situation. Lauren stole second. Sydney fell behind in the count 0-2 before slapping a single through the 5-6 hole to score Kaylee and move Lauren to 3rd. Sydney then stole second. Addison popped foul to the right side and I could not see what happened. I don't know if the wind blew it out of play or the ECU 1st baseman just could not corral it. Anyway, with new life, Addison single up the middle to drive in Lauren and Addison with Addison aggressively taking 2nd on the throw home and the Shocks have their crooked number. Butters popped to short, Neleigh struck out and Ryleigh hit a sharp one hopper that the pticher knocked down and threw her out at first. Let's see if Caitlyn can go out and pitch like a pitcher should after her teammates gave her a little cushion.

And Caitlyn more or less did that giving up only a 2 out walk while getting a strike out and 2 ground outs. Shocks are down in order in the 6th.

Caitlyn starts out 0-2 on the ECU lead off hitter in the 7th on back-to-back called strike change ups. Then on the 0-2 she groves a batting practice fast ball right down the gut and the ECU hitter lined it sharply to right for a lead off single. Hope they at least have Bailey throwing a light bullpen. The next batter rips a 3-2 pitch back through the middle for a single bringing the tying run to the plate and on comes BaileyL.

Ryleigh with her best Billy Buckner impression let's an easy bouncer go right between her legs near 3rd base. Bases loaded, no outs. A sharp single to right center scores 2 and leaves runners at the corners still with no outs. BaileyL hits the next batter on a 3-2 count and the bases are loaded again. Doesn't look like BaileyL was mentally prepared to bed in this situation. Bailey gets a big strike out but then gives up a line drive the just clears the wall in the right field corner for a grand slam. One way to get out of a jam although not the preferred way. Back to their speedy lead off batter who reaches on a bunt single. she then stole second without a throw and then apparently scored from second on a wild pitch. Finally that's over. Shocks down 8-4 needing 4 to extend the game.

Perhaps the ugliest half inning in the field this year. I fell like the key play was the ball that went between Ryeligh's legs but ECU took full advantage of their opportunities in the 7th unlike the rest of the game.

The Shocks can only muster a one single by Sydney in the bottom of the 7th.

Final Score: ECU 8 - WSU 4

A game ECU deserved to win and one the Shocks deserved to lose. Shocks needs to regroup and bounce back tomorrow. I doubt if HCKB was too happy with this effort.

[1972Shocker]

Game 4 of 4

Bailey Lange in the circle for the Shocks. Erin Poepping for ECU.

Bailey sets ECU down in order in the 1st. Sydney leads off the Shocker 1st with a home run to left center and Addison followed with a home run to right (which is a great sign as if Addie needed any more good signs).

ECU tied it up in the top of the 2nd with 2 runs on 2 singles, 2 walks and an error by Sydney at short.

Wylie walked with 1 out went to 2nd on a wild pitch and then went to third on a wild pitch on ball 4 to Sydiney. Sydney stole second putting runners at 2nd and 3rd for Addison. Addison worked the account full then hammered a line drive over the wall in left that took about 2 seconds to get out of the park. Shocks up 5-2 after 2.

Bailey sets ECU down in order in the 3rd. A Ryleigh walk, BaileeN single to center and a Camryn single to right produce a rund for the Shocks. Kaylee drves in BailleN from 3rd with a sac fly to the warning track in center. After Wylie hit into a fielder's choice force at 2nd on an excellent play by the ECU shortstop Sydney beat out a slow roller to short to moving Wylie to 2nd. Addison took the first 2 pitches for strikes before deliviering a sharp single up the middle to score Wylie with Sydney going to 3rd and Addison taking 2d on the throw to the plate. Butters, who is slumping a bit, popped up to short to end the inning with the Shocks now leading 8-2. I think that is at least three times in a row Butters has popped out, twice to the pitcher. Definitely is getting under the ball.

Bailey with another 1-2-3 inning in the top fo the 4th. With 1 out in the Shocker 4th Ryleigh fouled a ball of her head and had to leave the game. Jessica Garcia takes over with the count at 1-1. Jessica took the 1st pitch she saw over the left field wall but foul. She worked the count full then deleivered a home run to center. With 2 outs Camryn fell behind in the count 0-2, worked it to 2-2 the drove a ball over the wall in the left field corner. Kaylee singled through the 5-6 hole and Wylie walked. Sydney hit a sharp liner rigtht at the ECU 3rd baseman to end the inning. Shocks lead 10-2 after 4.

Jessica replaces Neleigh as the DP, Neleigh moves to 1st and Camryn moves from 1st to 3rd.

Bailey walks the #8 and #9 hole hitters of ECU to lead off the 9th, SMH. Back to the speedy lead off hitter and a bunt single loads the bases. Bailey got a big strike out on the 2-hole hitter and then made a really nice one-handed scoop and shovel on a swinging bunt towards 3rd to get a force out at home. After 3 fouls balls on a 2-2 count including one that probably had home run distance that was wll foul down the line in left the count went to 3-2 before getting a two hoopper to Neleigh at 1st to end the inning. A really nice job of getting out of the jam after a really poor job of getting into the jam. In any case, the Shocks finish of the 10-2 five inning run rule.

Bailey was very good for 3 innings, not very good in one inning and not very good and then very good in 1 inning.

Addsion Barnard continues to lead the Shocker attack going 3-3 with 2 home runs and 5 RBI. Sydney, Jessica and Camryn all added solo home runs. Those 4 drove in 9 of the Shockers 10 runs with senior Kaylee Huecker get the other RBI.

Of some concern in this series is Butters (1-10), Ryleigh (2-9) and Bailee (2-10) in the last 3 games are slumping a bit. Not sure the line up with Neleigh at 1st, Camryn at 3rd and Jessica at DP is not out best one.

Not sure how our pitching is going to hold up. Bailey was good in Game 1, Erin was so-so in Game 2, Caitlyn and Erin were bad in Game 3 and Bailey was good, then bad, then good, then bad, then good in Game 4.

A sweep would have been nice but at a minimum the Shocks needed to take 3 of 4.

ECU 2-3-0-5
WSU 10-10-1-6

[1972Shocker]

Other AAC Series this Weekend

USF 4 - 0 Memphis
UCF 4 - 0 Houston

Tulsa went 1-2 vs La Tech

Only 7 teams in the AAC play softball now that UConn has moved to the Big East.

[flyingMoose]

Sydney is the AAC Player of the Week.


Georgina Corrick of USF is the Pitcher of the Week for the fourth time of the seven weekly recognitions.

[1972Shocker]

Sydney is the AAC Player of the Week.

McKinney was red-hot at the plate during the four-game series. The Norborne, Mo., native was 9-for-13 (.692) with a home run, three walks, three stolen bases, four RBI and eight runs scored. She had multiple hits in all four games, including a 3-for-3 day with a career-high four runs scored in the opener to help the Shockers run-rule the Pirates, 16-2. McKinney finished the weekend with a leadoff home run to help set the tone in Wichita State's 10-2 win on Sunday.

Sydney is now hitting .404 on the season through 25 games after hitting .410 in last season's Covid shortened 27 game season. She hit .329 as a true freshman in 2019.

Don't want to jinx Sydney but she has now struck out 1 time in 89 at bats this season. Actually add her 8 walks in and she has struck out 1 time in 97 total at bats this year. That's pretty good.

[flyingMoose]

The Shockers continue to RV in the Coaches' Poll. Their eight votes are 32nd. No love in the ESPN Poll, however.

[1972Shocker]

The Shockers continue to RV in the Coaches' Poll. Their eight votes are 32nd. No love in the ESPN Poll, however.

They did not look like a ranked team on Saturday. They are probably going to have to win the series with UCF and USF to get ranked. That will not be an easy task but if they can do that they will absolutely deserve to be ranked.