Shocker SB v Southern Illinois

[flyingMoose]

The Shockers open the conference portion of their schedule this weekend against the Salukis - two on Saturday and one on Sunday, starting at noon both days.

SIU is a preseason pick for third in the Valley. They have a 12-7 record against moderate competition, certainly weaker than the Shockers opposition. They have three players who were preseason all-conference picks in first baseman Taylor Osburn, second baseman Jayna Spivey and outfielder Mallory Duran-Sellers. Osburn and Spivey were first team all-conference last year as freshmen. Duran was all-conference and all Mid-East Region last year. Of the three, only Duran is doing much, hitting over .400, but three others are above .300. The Salukis have a team SLOB (slugging % + onbase %) of .855 and an ERA of 4.85.

Sloan's last two outings have to be very encouraging for the Shocks, but a few more hitters need to step up for us to make a splash in the Valley. Only Sydney and Brittney are hitting north of .300. The Shockers' SLOB and ERA are .657 and 6.54. (These numbers do not include the O-State game.)

[Hovpen]

These should be very competitive games and quite winable for both teams. Execution will be the key.

[flyingMoose]

Southern Illinois 11-8 Shockers

After falling behind early, the Shockers had a big seven-run third inning led by two-run homers by Sydney and Erin to take an 8-4 lead. That lasted until the fifth when the Salukis capped a four-run inning with a three-run home run. Katherine came on in relief, but gave up two runs in the sixth to eventually take the loss with KA reentering during the seventh.

KA gave up seven hits in 5.1 but also gave up seven walks and an HBP. Erin had three hits including a double in addition to her home run, Sydney had two hits and Melanie had two hits. Those with multiple RBI were Sydney (3) and Erin (2).

[flyingMoose]

Southern Illinois 5-0 Shockers

Sloan had this start and gave up single runs in five different innings, including two homers. The Shockers had chances early but could not get anything across the plate. Sydney led off the game with a double for our only extra-base hit, but was thrown out at the plate with some poor base running, getting caught between the third baseman and home on a bouncer to third. We had the bases loaded in the third with one out and could not score. Melanie was the only Shocker with two hits.

Sloan gave up thirteen hits and four walks, working with a zone that was tight for both sides.

The Shocks close the series with SIU with a single game at noon tomorrow.

[Hovpen]

WTH, no gametracker link? NM, I found it on the SIU site.

[flyingMoose]

Southern Illinois 7-1 Shockers

Sloan started in the circle for this game, but Katie came on in the third after 2.2 innings, Sloan having given up four runs and six hits, including a two-run blast in the third. Katie gave up five hits and two walks, but shutout the Salukis until the seventh when she was a victim of two errors, leading to three unearned runs. Sammie's solo homer in the fifth was the only Shocker score. She also singled and was the only Shocker with multiple hits, the Shocks having five hits on the day.

The Shockers take a long and winding road to Bloomington for next weekend's series against the Redbirds with stops along the way to play UMKC on Wednesday and Saint Louis on Thursday.