RV/RV Shocker SB v #11/9 Oklahoma State

[flyingMoose]

The Shockers mid-week non-conference game this week is against the Cowgirls of Oklahoma State at 6 pm Tuesday. The two teams split two earlier matchups this season.

Oklahoma State has a record of 38-5 and 11-1 in the Big XII. Their record against ranked teams is 4-1. Their series in the Big XII have been against Kansas, Iowa State, Texas Tech, and Baylor with the lone loss being against KU. After the Tuesday game against the Shocks, they play Tulsa on Wednesday.

With a total of five players with an OPS over 1.000, the top three are Hayley Busby (1.323 and fourteen homers), Alysen Febrey (1.229 and twelve homers), and Kiley Naomi (1.113 and seven homers). The team has a total of 60 home runs on the year.

The three primary pitchers in innings order are Carrie Eberle (ERA of 0.81 and WHIP of 0.93), Kelly Maxwell (1.16 and 0.73), and Logan Simunek (2.45 and 1.16). Eberle and Maxwell between them have almost half of the starts.

On the season, the leading hitters for the Shockers are Addison (1.242 and nineteen homers), Neleigh (1.217 and eight homers), Butters (1.128 and fifteen homers), and Sydney (1.082).

Again in innings order, the pitching stats are Bailey (2.03 and 1.03), Caitlin (1.93 and 1.33), and Erin (3.40 and 1.17).

[1972Shocker]

Really, really nice win by the Shocks tonight 3-2 over the 11th ranked Cowgirls and this was against their top 2 pitchers. Winning 2 of 3 over OSU this year will look really good on the Shocks NCAA resume.

Bailey Lange went the distance for the Shocks and was very good except for a couple of mistakes to the 1st 2 OSU batters in the 5th that left the park.

Sydney led off the bottom of the 1st with a homerun on an 0-2 mistake by Carrie Eberle. The Shocks added an unearned run in the bottom of the 4th to take a 2-0 lead before OSU quickly tied the game with the back-to-back homers leading off the 5th. Neleigh, who has been struggling had 2 singles in her 1st two at bats, although neither was hard hit, turned on a pitch on the inner part of the strike zone and absolutely crushed a no doubter over the right field wall in the bottom of the 6th off Kelly Maxwell for the winning margin.

It was great seeing Neleigh with some success. Would be nice if she finishes strong.

This game was very closely contested with both teams getting 2 solo home runs. Bailey did not walk anyone and the two OSU studs only walked 1 batter. The only fielding miscue in the game came in the bottom of the 4th when the OSU 2nd basemen could not haul in a soft liner to her left with two outs allowing Kaylee to reach 1st safely as pinch runner Lauren Johnson raced home from second base to score.

The Shockers defense is generally quite good and perhaps an underrated aspect of their game.

[flyingMoose]

Really, really nice win by the Shocks tonight 3-2 over the 11th ranked Cowgirls and this was against their top 2 pitchers. Winning 2 of 3 over OSU this year will look really good on the Shocks NCAA resume.

RPI for selected AAC teams

The top four are

30 Shockers
31 UCF
58 USF
84 Tulsa

Frankly, with Corrick throwing every game, USF has a really good chance of being the AQ from the AAC. The at-large possibilities for the conference are ... intriguing, shall we say.

Oh, and I have no feel for the reliance of the Selection Committee on RPI.

[shoxlax]

Wilkins was packed when I drove by about 7 this evening.

[1972Shocker]

Neleigh was in a 1 of her previous 21 at bats slump entering the OSU game.

Bailey Lange is now 5-1 against Oklahoma State as a Shocker.

https://goshockers.com/news/2021/4/2...l-weekend.aspx

The linked article includes video clips of Neleigh's game winning home run and Lauren Johnson's race to the plate from 2nd to score the Shocks' 2nd run in the 4th.

[1972Shocker]

The live video clip of Neleigh's home run from the ESPN+ stream is what you see in the clip in the above linked article. There is a replay on the ESPN+ stream that I think even gives a better look at it. It appears to a shot form somewhere down the right field line. Maybe right at the end of the stands on that side of the field. In any case, in that view 1st base coach Pressley Bell, a 2nd year grad assistant who pitched for Houston, knew immediately that that was a home run as she pretty much signaled touchdown a spit second after contact.

Neither view gave a real good look at exactly how far that ball was hit but I'm thinking it probably knocked on the door of the Y unless something else got in its way. Anyone who was at the game have eye witness report on that?

It actually wasn't a terrible pitch. Inner half at the knees but Neleigh got it all like she knew it was coming.

[flyingMoose]

... but Neleigh got it all like she knew it was coming.

Somewhere, I don't have time to look for it at the moment, there are comments by Neleigh that she recognized they were pitching her in. She thought she would get an away pitch and then another inside pitch. They did and she did.

[flyingMoose]

After the Tuesday game against the Shocks, they [Oklahoma State] play Tulsa on Wednesday.

This game has been canceled. I was surprised to see it on the schedule given that Oklahoma State has a big Big XII series with Texas this weekend. My guess is that they were willing to play one of the two games with the Shockers and Tulsa but had them both on the schedule in case the first one was rained out.

Similarly, the Bye Week games with Arkansas have been canceled. I don't have a theory for that one. The Razorbacks were coming here. The postponed game with Oklahoma is now part of the Bye Week - possibly that is it.

[Veritas]

Watched the game on ESPN+. Awesome win.

The stadium needs some help. Dugout looks like a little league dugout. Stands are only slightly better. Place needs some help. Where are the locker rooms?

Any plans to renovate?