MVC SB Tournament Watch

[flyingMoose]

Rather than append results, current standings and such to a weekend thread, I'll start this thread so the information is one place.

The Valley will again this year use a double-bye, single-elimination format for the conference tournament.

As of last weekend, Northern Iowa, Southern Illinois, Creighton, Illinois State and Drake have conference records above .500 and will make the tournament. Missouri State (8-11), Bradley (7-12), Indiana State (5-14), Shockers (5-15) and Evansville (4-16) are vying for the last three spots - or perhaps it is better described as the last three teams are after that last spot.

This week everyone has a mid-week game with their "travel partner." Yesterday, Indiana State lost to Illinois State 9-1(6) and Evansville stunned Southern Illinois 9-0(5). Today, the Shocks host Missouri State and Bradley travels to Northern Iowa.

This weekend, the series of interest are Drake at Evansville, Indiana State at Missouri State and Bradley at Wichita State.

[flyingMoose]

In addition to the Shocker's win over Missouri State tonight, Bradley lost to Northern Iowa, 4-1.

Current standings of interest are:

8-12 Missouri State
7-13 Bradley
6-15 Shockers
5-15 Indiana State
5-16 Evansville

It is still very crowded at the bottom three spots, separated by only one game. The Shocks trail Bradley by a game and a half, so their series this weekend is big.

[URKidng]

Thank you FlyingMoose for your information. It is appreciated. Great win last night by the girls.
Defensive plays seemed to be the story from last night. I read about the two outs at home; one from a relay-Milnark, Carney, Bond, and one from Temple to Bond. Another deep catch from right, Carey, and rocket throw to Bond kept the runner on third and prevented a run. Great job, ladies!
With great defensive plays, and consistant hitting, they WILL make it to tourney and do well!
GO SHOCKS!

[1972Shocker]

Spring Sports Press Conference #10

http://www.goshockers.com/ViewArticle.dbml?DB_LANG=C&ATCLID=205419520&DB_OEM_ID=7500

HCKB and Katie are at about the 5 minute mark. This was recorded yesterday before the MSU game. HCKB said see thought they need to win 4 of 7 of their remaining MVC games to make the tournament.

1 down - 3 to go if HCKB's assessment is correct and no reason to think it is not.

Update: 2 down, 2 to go.

[flyingMoose]

Indiana State 0-1 Missouri State

Indiana State 0-1 Missouri State

Natalie Rose bests Lindsay Beisser twice.


Drake 2-0 Evansville

Drake 6-1 Evansville


Through Saturday's games:

8-14 Bradley
7-16 Shockers
5-17 Indiana State
5-18 Evansville

At this point, I assume Missouri State (10-12) is in the tournament.

[flyingMoose]

Sunday results:

Bradley 9-5 Shockers

Indiana State 3-2 Missouri State

Drake 7-3 Evansville


Standings of interest:

9-14 Bradley
7-17 Shockers
6-17 Indiana State
5-19 Evansville


Missouri State (10-13) is in the tournament as the Sycamores in ninth cannot catch them.

Bradley hosts Southern Illinois next weekend, the Shockers travel to Des Moines to play Drake who are currently in fifth, and Indiana State go to Evansville.

A Bradley win or an Indiana State loss qualify the Braves for the tournament.

With only a half-game lead over the Sycamores, the Shocks need to match or better the Trees record next weekend. Clearly, ISU has the better matchup.

Evansville can make the tournament only if they sweep Indiana State, and the Shockers lose all three to Drake.

[1972Shocker]

The way the Shocks lost to Bradley today really hurt. Hopefully, they will show some grit and bounce back and play Drake tough.

[flyingMoose]

Saturday, May 5, Results

To introduce as much confusion as possible, the following format is used:

VT(conf record) GWonToday-GWonToday HT(conf record).


Shockers (7-19) 0-2 Drake (16-10)

Indiana State (6-19) 0-2 Evansville (7-19)

Amazingly, our two losses today still leave us in a tie for eighth with Evansville, but we own the tie breaker, having swept them earlier. If the Shocks win tomorrow, they are in the tournament.
If they lose, the winner of the Indiana State-Evansville game claims the last spot.

Missouri State (12-13) 2-0 Creighton (14-11)

Southern Illinois (15-10) 0-2 Bradley (11-14)

With these results, Drake has moved into third and can do no worse than fourth, gaining a one-game bye in the tournament. Perhaps with that pressure being off the Bulldogs, their emotional intensity will be down a bit tomorrow against the Shockers. Hey, I'm looking for any edge possible. :)


Illinois State (18-8) 1-1 Northern Iowa (21-4)

These two teams do not care what the hoi polloi of the conference is doing - they have locked up the top two seeds of the tournament and the double byes that go with them.

[1972Shocker]

So as far as the Shocks are concerned its win and they are in; lose and they can snooze.

[flyingMoose]

So as far as the Shocks are concerned its win and they are in; lose and they can snooze.

Yes. I suffer from a "completeness" syndrome. :)

[flyingMoose]

Sunday's Results

Shockers 2-7 Drake

Indiana State 0-7 Evansville

The only way for the Purple Aces to claim the last spot in the conference tournament, sweeping the Sycamores while the Shocker lose three to Drake, comes to pass.


Illinois State and Northern Iowa are rained out.


Missouri State 4-5(8) Creighton

The Jays win on a three-run walk-off homer.


Southern Illinois 11-5 Bradley


Seeds for the tournament are:

1 - Northern Iowa
2 - Illinois State
3 - Drake
4 - Southern Illinois
5 - Creighton
6 - Missouri State
7 - Bradley
8 - Evansville

[flyingMoose]

Tournament Central for the Valley tournament. All games are streamed for free, except the championship game (Fox Kansas City).

[flyingMoose]

Game One

Evansville 5-6 Creighton

The Jays get a two-out three-run homer in the bottom of the sixth for a 6-4 lead and hold off the Purple Aces in the seventh.

Creighton plays Southern Illinois later today.

[flyingMoose]

Game Two

Bradley 1-4 Missouri State

The Bears scored three in the first and Natalie Rose shut down the Braves, allowing their only run with two out in the seventh.

[flyingMoose]

Game Three

Creighton 2-3 Southern Illinois

The Jays hit a two-run homer in the sixth to tie, but the Salukis answered with a solo shot of their own in the bottom half for the win.