Shocker SB at FGCU/La Quinta Inns Tournament

[Hovpen]

I guess when things have been going they way they have been for so long losing just becomes second nature to a team/program and perhaps you just get used to it.

There is something to be said for that. Winning programs win that type of game while players that aren't used to winning will more than likely fold in that situation. Regardless, its against a team that they shouldn't have been in the game with to start with that they had a chance to beat and in the end didn't. Competitive, but not the W fans are looking for

[flyingMoose]

... the ending to the Shocker-Georgia Southern game as the Lady Shocks pull a loss from the jaws of victory giving up 3 in the bottom of the 7th and 1 in the bottom of the 8th to lose 4-3.

An error at short (Ali?) to lead off the bottom of the seventh makes only one of the three runs earned. KA gave up a solo homer to tie the game with two outs.

[flyingMoose]

Shocks score in the 1st to take a 1-0 lead on host FGCU. Sloan in the circle.

Shocks lose this one, 6-2. Sloan was roughed up, giving up two in the second and two more in the third on eight hits to bring Hunter on for her first experience in the circle as a Shocker. She gave up two more runs, one earned, in four and a third, but yielded five hits and six walks. Yikes!! We only had three hits, one an RBI double by Layne.

Alabama and Appalachian State are on the schedule tomorrow.

[1972Shocker]

There is something to be said for that. Winning programs win that type of game while players that aren't used to winning will more than likely fold in that situation. Regardless, its against a team that they shouldn't have been in the game with to start with that they had a chance to beat and in the end didn't. Competitive, but not the W fans are looking for

Feel bad for Katie. She was tough as nails for 6 innings and a win would have really helped her confidence.

[flyingMoose]

Friday scores

Appalachian State 10-9(8) Southern Illinois
Georgia Southern 1-0 Southern Illinois
Alabama 9-3 Appalachian State
Georgia Southern 4-3(8) Shockers
Florida Gulf Coast 6-2 Shockers
Alabama 2-1 Florida Gulf Coast

[flyingMoose]

LiveStats for Shocker v Alabama.

Shockers 0-2 Alabama

The Tide scores one in the bottom of the first to lead 1-0 after two complete. KA is in the circle.

A homer in the third stretches Bama's lead to 2-0.

LiveStats are locked up in the bottom of the fourth.

Now LS are back. Still 2-0 after five complete.

With one out in the sixth, the Shocks manage two base runners on an error and hit-batter but cannot score. Alabama gets their first two runners on, but KA get the next three outs. 2-0 after six complete.

Three up and three down in the seventh closes out the game.

Katie allowed six hits and gave up two walks against basically the same lineup that FGCU saw last night - a very nice effort. The Shocks only hit was a second-inning single by Brittany Fortner.

The Shocker play Appalachian State the last game today and again tomorrow to close out the tournament.

[1972Shocker]

Actually, two good efforts by Katie in her last two outings. Really, only one bad inning out of the 15 she pitched. Unfortunately, that bad inning (with the help of a lead-off error) cost her a win. Still, sounds like Katie is pitching well enough to be competitive in the Valley.

Whether or not we can muster enough offense to make any difference remains an issue.

[flyingMoose]

Appalachian State 3-4 Shockers

Hunter gets the start in this one and has a rough first inning. Two walks and two singles yield two runs.

After another walk by Hunter to lead off the second, Katie is on in relief. Sloan is hurt? Not feeling well?

Singles by Kaitlyn Carey, Ali and Hayley get a run back in the third. Mountaineer lead 2-1 after three complete.

A walk, stolen base, single and wild pitch score a run for Applachian State in the fifth.

In the Shocker sixth, a double by Brittany Fortner and single and stolen base by Erin sets the stage for a two-run single by Brianne Bond. Score tied at 3 after six complete.

In the bottom of the seventh, a walk to Laura followed by another walk and a ground out move runners to third and second. Erin then reaches on an infield error by Appalachian State and the Shocks win, 4-3.

Katie pitches six inning of two-hit ball with six Ks and four walks, giving up one run.

I agree with @1972Shocker:, except for her first outing in Louisiana, she has pitched well enough to win the rest of her games.

The Shockers close out the tournament with a rematch with the Mountaineers tomorrow morning.

[flyingMoose]

Saturday scores

Southern Illinois 10-1 Georgia Southern. Salukis score seven in the last two innings to win going away.
Shockers 0-2 Alabama
Florida Gulf Coast 6-3 Appalachian State
Georgia Southern 1-2(9) Alabama. Purvis v Traina. Bases loaded double in the ninth drives in two runs for the win.
Southern Illinois 0-6 Florida Gulf Coast
Appalachian State 3-4 Shockers

[Hovpen]

Shockers made it exciting and pick up a 2-1 W in eight innings.

[flyingMoose]

Shockers 2-1(8) Appalachian State

To amplify Hovpen:

Sloan has the start.

Shocks score in the first on an Ali double, sac bunt and then a sac fly by Laura.

Sloan allows her first hit in the fourth.

The Shocks get a runner to third in the sixth with one out but cannot score her. In the seventh, Megan McCracken singles and Layne, her pinch runner, steals second. She is then thrown out at the plate for the third out on a single by Kaitlyn.

Appalachian State tie the game in the bottom of the seventh on an error and two singles, the run being unearned.

The Shockers take the lead in the top of the eighth (ITB) on a sac of Kaitlyn to third and a sac fly by Hayley. The Mountaineers loaded the bases in the bottom half with the ITB runner, a single and an error, but Sloan gets a fly out to end the game.

Sloan gets the win, giving up five hits and a walk and getting four strike outs over eight innings. The Shocks had only four hits on the game.

The Shocker finish 2-3 and have a pretty nice tournament. Other than the wins, they gave away a game to Georgia Southern and played Florida Gulf Coast and Alabama reasonably close. Sloan had one bad outing (as did Hunter, but I am not counting on her for anything just yet, perhaps even this year) and there are still questions about the offense, but this weekend was against much more solid competition than last.

Next weekend, the team travel to Memphis (don't believe the location posted on our site) to play in the Blues City Classic.

[flyingMoose]

Sunday scores

Alabama 10-1(5) Southern Illinois. Jury, the same 'Bama pitcher that faced us, won this one.
Shockers 2-1(8) Appalachian State
Georgia Southern 4-2 Florida Gulf Coast. GS has a national-class pitcher in Purvis, who came in late and got the win.

[WSU2011Parent]

There is something to be said for that. Winning programs win that type of game while players that aren't used to winning will more than likely fold in that situation. Regardless, its against a team that they shouldn't have been in the game with to start with that they had a chance to beat and in the end didn't. Competitive, but not the W fans are looking for

Who is folding? The team members I know love competing and winning, and they hate losing. I'm unaware of any who willingly fold-up and go home, under pressure or not. If Friday's losses were disappointing to you, imagine how they felt. It wasn't like they returned to the hotel for an all-night party and pillow-fights. If you think they celebrate their frustration and just shrug off a loss, you'd be wrong. They're also mature enough to look ahead to the next game and not hang onto the frustration. In short, they're competitors. They're also human.

Holding the national champions to 2 runs, a comeback-win last night, and an extra-inning win today is a good finish and I'm proud of our team.

Nice job, ladies! Safe travels home...

[Hovpen]

Thats about as good of a rant as I've seen from someone who was trying to read something into something I wrote that isn't there.

[WSU2011Parent]

Since I have my selective reading goggles on, thanks for the compliment.