Shocker SB at Drake

[flyingMoose]

The conference regular season concludes this weekend with the Shockers visiting Drake. The other series holding interest for us is Indiana State at Evansville, the Shocks holding a half-game lead over the Sycamores for the eighth and last spot in the conference tournament. Drake also trails Creighton by one-half game in the battle for the fourth spot in the conference, which brings with it a one-game bye in the tournament.

Drake (14-10, 25-27) does not breakout their conference-only stats. Their season OPS is .660 (versus opponents' .677) and their team ERA is 2.90 (versus opponents' 2.64), the kind of numbers you might expect given their record. They have four hitters with an OPS above .700, two of them above .800. We have one and two respectively in those categories, but drop off woefully after that. Jordan Gronewald and Rebekah Schmidt are the pitchers for the Bulldogs with whoever seems to have the hot hand getting the innings on a weekend. Drake's RPI is 182 with the Shockers at 193.

The game writeup on the Drake site is here.

[1972Shocker]

Need to play better then we have over the past 5 games IMHO to be able to advance to the MVC Tournament. Not that I expect us to really do much in the Tournament, but at least it gives the Shocks something to shoot for.

[flyingMoose]

Katie is in the circle for the Shockers and Gronewald for Drake. We have the lineup that has been standard of late.

[1972Shocker]

Shocks jump out to a 1-0 lead in the first. But Drake promptly responds with a 2 spot in the bottom of the inning.

Shocks retake the lead at 3-2 in the top of the 3rd with a 2-spot. Again Drake responds with a 2-spot of their own. Could have been worse as the 1st four batters from Drake reached safely in the 3rd with one scoring.

Drake leads 4-3 after 3.

[1972Shocker]

Drake tacks on 2 more in the 4th with the aid of an error by Hayley Temple.

Katie hit the lead-off batter in the Drake 5th and was releived by Katherine Johnson who worked through the inning without giving up a run.

Drake 6-3 after 5.

[1972Shocker]

Shocks pick up a run on a couple of singles and a Drake error and had runners on 2nd and 3rd with no outs in the 6th, but Holly Eckert and Layne Greenlee stuckout to end the threat.

Katherine pitches a scoreless 6th.

Drake 6 - Shocks 4 heading to the 7th.

[1972Shocker]

Rachel leads off the 7th with a ball that deflected off the Drake 1B to the 2B who threw back to the 1B for the out. Must have been pretty sharply hit for that to happen.

Danika struck out.

Sydney struck out.

Final: Drake 6 - Shocks 4

[1972Shocker]

Rachel leads off the 7th with a ball that deflected off the Drake 1B to the 2B who threw back to the 1B for the out. Must have been pretty sharply hit for that to happen.

Danika struck out.

Sydney struck out.

Final: Drake 6 - Shocks 4. Drake outhit the Shocks 12-6.

[1972Shocker]

WSU @ Drake - Game 2

Drake gets a lead-off double and a stolen base to put a runner aty 3rd with no outs in the bottom of the 1st. However, Sloan got a strike-out and then a line drive to LF that resulted in the runner on 3rd getting doubled up to sneak out of the inning.

In the 2nd Sloan gave up a couple of singles then her hold nemesis paid a visit as she gave up a 3-run homer.

Drake up 3-0 after 2.

[1972Shocker]

Rebekah Schmidt in the circle for Drake. Schmidt provided the 3-run homer in the 2nd and then added a solo homer in the 4th.

The Shocks picked up a run in the 5th but left two runners in scoring position.

Drake 4 - Shocks 1 after 5.

[1972Shocker]

Shocks get runners on 2nd and 3rd with 1 out in the top of the 6th. Score 1 on a wild pitch.

Both Shocker runs have scored on wild pitches.

Drake goes in order in their half of the 6th.

Drake 4 - Shocks 2 heading into the 7th.

[1972Shocker]

Shocks get a 2-out single from Danika in the 7th, but nothing else.

Final: Drake 4-6-0 over the Shocks 2-7-1

Evansville and Indiana State tied at 3 at the end of regulation.

[flyingMoose]

Evansville and Indiana State tied at 3 at the end of regulation.

Evansville sweeps Indiana State 4-3(10) and 4-1. Even with our two losses today, a win tomorrow puts us in the tournament.

[1972Shocker]

Evansville sweeps Indiana State 4-3(10) and 4-1. Even with our two losses today, a win tomorrow puts in the tournament.

And a loss ends our season. So it is pretty clear cut what the Shocks need to do if they want to keep playing just a little longer.

[1972Shocker]

Shocks @ Drake - Game 3

Sloan in the circle for the Shocks today. Let's hope she can keep the ball in the park today or if she does give a homer or two they are of the solo variety.