Shocker SB at Oklahoma State Mizuno Classic

[flyingMoose]

Perhaps quite a bit more than pedestrian offensively.

Just disappointed that it took until the fifth inning to wake up against pitching that was probably not a whole lot better than BP pitching.

[1972Shocker]

It could be my imagination but the couple of times I have seen Lolo this year looks like she may have actually put on a few more pounds since last year. I am wondering if her bat would speed up a little bit if she dropped some weight. Although I definitely live in a glass house when it comes to that.

[1972Shocker]

First pitch vs OSU scheduled for 5:30. Alison in the circle for the Shocks.

[1972Shocker]

So Zoe Jones gives the Shocks an early lift by hitting a 2-run homer in the top of the first.

Then Alison gets a ground out to the first batter she faces on a 3-1 count, then walks the next two batters before going 3-0 on the OSU cleanup hitter then giving up a double. Sydney compounds the generosity by making and error and just like that it is 2-2 with the bases loaded and only 1 out. A single to left makes it 3-2 and for all intents and purposes this game is most likely over. OSU tacks on 1 more with a sac fly and it's 4-2 after 1.

OSU closes out the 2nd run rule of the weekend over the Shocks with a lead off home run in the bottom of the 5th.

Final Score: OSU 10-10-2-8; WSU 2-2-1-6 (5 innings)

The Shocks simply don't have the pitching to hang with the likes of Okie State.

Alison allowed 5 earned runs over1.1 innings on 3 hits and 3 walks. Sydney committed the Shockers only errors. Caitlyn allowed 5 earned runs over 2.2 innings on 7 hits and 4 base on balls. Each gave up1 home run.

The Shocks play their first home game of the season, weather permitting, on Wednesday hosting the Kansas Jayhawks who the defeated 9-2 in Lawrence thi past Monday. The weather is looking pretty iffy right now.

The Shocks then take the weekend off before taking on #1 Oklahoma in Norman on Wednesday, March 23rd before returning home the following weekend to open AAC play against Tulsa.

Following Tulsa the Shocks will finish non-con play against the Okie State Cowgirls on Wednesday.

Then it's @ USF, @ Houston, home vs Memphis, @ECU and home vs UCF

[flyingMoose]

A homer in the second, and Caitlin is on in relief with one out. She gives up another run. 6-2 Cowgirls after two.

The Shocks load the bases in the third when Neleigh is hit by a pitch, Lauren singles, and Jessica walks, but Krystin fans to end the inning. That was the third strikeout of the inning for the Shocks by the way. Okie State scores a run on a wild pitch. 7-2.

In the fourth, three more Ks for the Shockers and two more runs for the Cowgirls. 9-2.

Elish starts the fifth for Oklahoma State. Maxwell had ten strikeouts in her twelve outs. Sounds like a vicious rise ball. The Cowgirls lead off the bottom of the fifth with a homer to end the game.


Shockers 2-10(5) Oklahoma State

Jessica walked twice. Everybody else struck out at least once. Zoe had a homer in the first for one of the two hits by the Shocks.

The game was a learning experience for Alison. She is surely the third option on conference weekends, so you have to give her the chance to fight through some tough opponents before then.

[flyingMoose]

Other Saturday Game

Kansas City 2-9 Oklahoma State

Day pitched this game for the Cowgirls

[1972Shocker]

Was looking at the AAC stats. Not too surprising. The Shocks are at the top of the league offenively as measured by OPS and they are last in the leature in pitching as measured by ERA.

BTW, USF's Georgina Corrick is 19-1 with an ERA of 0.11 with 195 strikeouts in 128 innings. USF rides Corrick for all she is worth (which is a lot). The #2 pitcher for USF is Erin Poepping who is #4 in the AAC with an ERA of 2.38 over 47 innings. Poeppings innings are about the same number of innings that Erin and Caitlyn have pitched for the Shocks.

So coming into the season we thought the Shocks would be a decent hitting team and that their prospects would largely be determined by their pitching which was far from proven and that is exactly how the season is playing out.

Because of Corrick USF was my pick to win the AAC this year. Obviously not seeing anything to change that. She will pitch 2 of the 3 games every weekend for USF with Poepping pitching the other game.

UCF and the Shocks look to be the best of the rest.