Shocker SB at OU Spring Festival

[flyingMoose]

Katherine is in the circle against the Sooners. This should be interesting.

Sydney, who sat the first game, is the DP in this one. Melanie moves to 2B, Brianne is catching and Rachel is sitting.

[flyingMoose]

Shockers 0-2 Oklahoma, after one.

Katherine gives up two solo homers, but did get a called strike three in the inning.

[1972Shocker]

The OU pitcher is 6-0 with a 0.91 ERA. This will definitely be a challenge for the young Shocks.

[flyingMoose]

Shockers 0-4 Oklahoma, after two.

The Sooners score two more, one on a bases-clearing throwing error by Sammie. Katherine gives up a single with two outs, and Katie is on to pitch, completing the inning with no further damage.

[flyingMoose]

Shockers 0-6 Oklahoma, after three.

Sydney gets a single in the third, but three strikeouts bring our total to six for the game. The Sooners tally two on a second Ricketts homer and a single, ground out and single. The OU pitcher came into the game averaging close to two Ks per inning.

[flyingMoose]

Shockers 0-13 Oklahoma, after four.

Layne get the Shocks second hit of the game. But the Sooners add six runs of ugliness, including including two homers and four walks, before Katherine reenters the game. She allows the seventh run of the inning, credited to Katie.

[flyingMoose]

Shockers 0-13(5) Oklahoma

The Sooners bring on #3 to start the inning, and she promptly hits Erin, the seventh HBP of the year for Erin. Brianne follows with a single, but there is no further damage.

[1972Shocker]

Tough day for the Ladies. No doubt overmatched against OU, but let's see how they respond tomorrow.

[Quick Pitch]

I don't know. My recollection is that many of her pop flies from last year where from batters swinging late - a lot of them to second and right field. Of course, they were swinging late because she had messed with their timing with her change-speeds approach to pitching.

On the general subject of this year's pitching: Both she and Katie have ERAs higher than last year - Katie from 3.75 to 5.73 and Sloan from 4.44 to 6.06 - and they were plenty high to begin with. Are they and Coach Sheeley still adjusting to each other (since the coach calls the pitches - at least she did in the fall)? Are some of the changes/teaching that Coach Shelley put in place still a work-in-progress? Is the competition better than last year? (I think this is probably true.)

I think it is more a result of Sloan pitching outside all the time. Hitters are simply going with the pitch. With her lack of velocity she has to nibble on the outside corner. JMO

[WSU2011Parent]

I was told Saturday game times are 10:30 and 12:30.

[flyingMoose]

I was told Saturday game times are 10:30 and 12:30.

GT for the 1030am game with Indiana.

In the other game from yesterday, Oklahoma defeated Indiana, 14-0 in five.

[Hovpen]

Vickers????? Did I miss something?

[1972Shocker]

Vickers????? Did I miss something?

I was wondering about that also.

[1972Shocker]

Indiana 6 - 14 - 1
Shocks 3 - 11 - 0

Sloan started and struggled. She gave up 5 earned runs on 7 hits including 5 doubles and a home run in 1.1 innings of work. Sloan is really struggling and badly in need of a confidence builder.

Perhaps Katie had a little confidence builder allowing 7 hits but only 1 run in her 5.2 innings of relief. She was able to get out when she needed them.

11 hits for the Shocks and they had their chances. They left the bases loaded in the 4th after scoring a run and had runners on the corners and only 1 out in the 7th and failed to capitalize.

Sounds like the competed much better today. Baby steps I guess.

[WSU2011Parent]

IU had too many big hits, strung together. WSU hit well, but left too many stranded. The girls played well.

And I'm diggin 3 scoreless innings vs OU! Sloan is mixing it up well and defense is making plays. They're just routine pop-ups and ground balls.