Shocker SB at Wilson/Demarini Invitational (Arizona State)

[flyingMoose]

The Shockers respond with two runs in the bottom of the first. Syndey singles, steals second and Brittney follows with a single. On Brittney's steal of second, the catcher (apparently) throws the ball to the outfield fence and both Sydney and Brittney score. KJ replaced KA to start the second and gave up a homer in the inning.

In the bottom of the second, Erin is HBP with two outs. Danika singles, Sydney singles to score Erin, Danika scores on a wild pitch, Sydney scores when Brittney reaches on an error by the right fielder. Then Hayley's double scores Brittney, and Sammie singles home Hayley, advances to third on the throw and scores on an illegal pitch.

Howard 5-8 Shockers, after two complete.

This has got to be some ugly softball - only four of the thirteen runs are earned.

And I wonder if there is a curfew in Tempe. With this start to the day, they may be playing this tournament until the wee hours of the morning.

[flyingMoose]

KJ gives up a walk and a single in the third, but no runs. In the Shocker third, Rachel singles, Holly doubles and Rachel scores on Erin's ground out. Holly then scores on a wild pitch. With two out, Sydney reaches on an infield single, steals second, steals third and scores on Layne Greenlee's (freshman from Denton) single. Layne had subbed for Brittney in CF in the top of the inning. I believe this is her first plate appearance of the season, having pinch run in Denton.

Howard 5-11 Shockers, after three complete.

[flyingMoose]

In the Howard fourth, a walk, throwing error on a fielder's choice (Sammie's second error of the day), ground out and wild pitch produce a run.

Howard 6-11 Shockers, after five complete.

[Hovpen]

2 outs away from a Shocker W with a 7 run lead.

[flyingMoose]

Howard 9-15 Shockers

A walk, bunt single and double score two more for Howard in the sixth, Katherine still pitching.

The Shocks counter with four runs in the bottom half of the inning. Layne, Hayley and Hilary load the bases with two infield singles and a walk. Melanie Jaegers delivers one run with another infield single and two more score on an error on Rachel's ground ball. Holly completes the scoring with a sac fly.

Howard gets a single and a walk in the top of the seventh, but a caught-stealing blunts the rally. However, the Shocks extend the inning with a two-out error by Erin at third, our fourth of the day, and Howard scores another run with a single. The last out of the game is a ground out to Hayley at short with the bases loaded.

Katherine gets the win with six innings of relief. She gave up seven hits and five runs, four earned. The six Ks are nice, but the five walks (and a HBP) have got to come way down. This cannot have been the greatest competition, but at least she was able to get her feet wet with an extended outing.

Only six of our runs were earned as each team had four errors, another number that appears to be an issue for the Shocks early in the season and that has to come down. Five of our twelve hits were of the infield variety. I would think that a better opponent would convert several of those into outs. Sydney, Layne and Hayley all had two hits, no one had multiple RBI. The biggest "hitting multiple" of the day was three HBP by Erin. Ouch!! We also had seven stolen bases (three by Sydney) with two caught-stealing. This tactic is clearly a major part of the offensive approach of Coach B.

North Dakota State is next after a one-game break.

[Hovpen]

Anytime you are throwing 58-60 miles per hour down the middle of the plate to Division I hitters, your infielders will be fielding some rockets and some errors will occur.

[flyingMoose]

The Shockers and North Dakota State are underway. Sloan is in the circle, and Layne gets the start in center. Is there an injury to Brittney, who did not complete the first game after starting in center?

[flyingMoose]

In the second, Holly gets an infield single which is followed by a two-run shot by Melanie Jaegers. Erin, the next batter is HBP, the fourth of the day for her!! She is then thrown out stealing. I guess so - after being hit so many times, she can probably barely hobble out to her position. NDSU returns the favor in the bottom half, an infield single followed by a homer. This is followed by an error, a steal and a single to plate the third run of the inning for the Bison. A walk and another homer bring in three more runs. Another walk and Katie is on to pitch. A double and a walk load the bases, but she gets out of the inning with a ground out.

Shockers 2-6 NDSU, after two complete.

[flyingMoose]

In the third, KA walks the bases loaded, and back-to-back singles score three more runs.

Shockers 2-9 NDSU, after three.

[flyingMoose]

Shockers 2-10(5) NDSU

NDSU add another run in the fourth with a single, wild pitch and single.

Erin has a single in the fifth, but the Shockers cannot score her and the game ends after five by the runs-ahead rule. Sydney had a fourth hit for the Shocks. Our pitching gave up ten hits and six walks in the four innings the Bison batted and allowed nine earned runs.

We play Howard and Arizona State tomorrow. Creighton also begins play in the tournament tomorrow.

[URKidng]

Just by looking at the stats, it seems as though the team cannot hit against better pitching. It was that way in Waco, and now in Arizona. Did better in Denton, less dominate teams. Some individuals do better, but not by much against the dominate pitching. The pitching is, as stated here before, a challange for this team. However, if the team doesn't hit through the line-up, it will be hard to win games in the Valley. Maybe, before the games that "count", all players not on the field need to DH for the pitcher the entire game to see if anyone can hit. Hey, the ones tried so far haven't produced consistancy, Laney did pretty good against Howard, but, again, a weaker team. Losing 11-0 and 10-2; really, how much could it hurt? Desperate times....

[flyingMoose]

Shockers 9-1(5) Howard

The Shocks broke out the long ball in defeating the Bison in a runs-ahead game.

After Syndey scored in the first (single and error, steal of third) on a sac fly by Hayley, Rachel had a grand slam in the second. Her big fly was preceded by singles by Erin and Melanie and a walk to Brianne Bond. In the third, the Shocks scored three more. Holly had a solo homer. Then Erin singled and stole second and was driven home on a double by Melanie who eventually scored on a passed ball. A solo shot by Erin in the fifth inning provided the ninth run.

The Shockers had twelve hits - Erin had three and Syndey, Sammie, Melanie and Rachel all had two, one of Sammie's being a double in addition to the extra-base hits already mentioned. Sloan was in the circle and only gave up three hits, one being a homer leading off the first.

There were a few changes in the lineup. Layne was in center again (no word from anyone if Brittney was injured earlier in the tournament), Holly caught, Melanie moved to second and Rachel was in right. Brianne was the DP.

The Shockers meet Arizona State later tonight.

[flyingMoose]

Earlier in the day,

North Dakota State 6-2 Creighton
Boise State 6-3 Creighton

[flyingMoose]

Our game with Arizona State is underway. Hillary Bach is in the circle for the Sun Devils. She and KK were teammates on the Tulsa Eagles, an 18U Gold travel ball team. Katie is in the circle for us.

In the bottom of the first, ASU parlays two walks and three singles into three runs before we get an out, which scored a fourth. They add one more and the first inning is complete.

Shockers 0-5 Arizona State, after one.

[flyingMoose]

In the bottom of the second with a runners at third and second, Erin executes a nice tag'em-out, throw'em out DP on a (sharp?) ground ball to third to end the inning. The Sun Devils do add a run in the third. We remain onbase-less.

Shockers 0-6 Arizona State, after three.