Shocker SB at Coastal Carolina Invitational

[flyingMoose]

Sloan does get the start against WCU.

In other lineup notes, Laura is at first, Danika in right, Paige at third, and Megan and Erin are sitting. Brianne remains the DP.

[1972Shocker]

Layne Greenlee with a Grand Salami in the bottom of the 6th to break a scoreless tie.

:applause:

[flyingMoose]

tied at 0 after four.

The Shocks are the home team.

In the third, a Catamount reached third on a leadoff double and sac bunt, but Sloan retired the next two.

In the Shocker fourth, a double by Ali, a bunt single by Hayley followed by her stolen base put runners at third and second with no outs. But a popup, fly out and popup retire the side. Those are the only two hits for the Shocks.

In the sixth, a leadoff double by Western does not score. Ali leads off with a single in the bottom half and Hayley replaces her on the bases via a fielder's choice. Then with two outs, Brianne singles and Laura walks to load the bases. Layne is start down in the count 0-2, but delivers a grand slam, our second of the season. Shocks, 4-0 after six.

[flyingMoose]

Three ground outs to short in the top of the seventh and Sloan completes the shutout, her second of the tournament. Shocks win, 4-0.

[Hovpen]

It is now ok to use Shockers and Win Streak in the same sentence when talking about softball.

[WuDrWu]

It sure seems like the ladies are improving. With the lack of real quality pitching (in my completely uneducated opinion) execution becomes the most important key to success for these Shocks and it seems as if they are executing at a high level right now.

Or is the competition simply this bad?

[flyingMoose]

Western Carolina 0-4 Shockers

Sloan hurls a four-hit shutout with three walks and two strikeouts. Three of those hits were doubles, but the Catamounts could not cash any of them. Sloan's ERA is now 1.38 and her WHIP is 1.03.

The Shocks had no hits until the fourth inning, but Layne had the big one, the grand slam, in the sixth. Ali's double was the other extra-base hit among the Shocker's five hits, and she was the only player with multiple hits, two.

The Shockers have won the three games they should have won in this tournament. Now the level of competition should go up a bit in the last two games. Coastal Carolina is next with a scheduled start time of 530pm our time.

[flyingMoose]

Or is the competition simply this bad?

Western Carolina and Drexel were picked near the bottom of their conferences. The "real" tournament starts now against two teams (Coastal Carolina and Albany) picked to win their conferences.

[1972Shocker]

It sure seems like the ladies are improving. With the lack of real quality pitching (in my completely uneducated opinion) execution becomes the most important key to success for these Shocks and it seems as if they are executing at a high level right now.

Or is the competition simply this bad?

I think the competition has been a little mixed so far this year. But it certainly looks like Katie and Sloan have figured some things out. Katie has added an improved change-up to her mix of pitches and Sloan, knock on wood, seems to have figured out how to keep the ball in the park this year. Last year she gave up 2 home runs per 7 innings pitched.

The offense probably will come and go some this year but hopefully will be good enough combined with the improved pitching to pick up a few more wins this year. We have had a few very clutch hits this year including 2 game-winning grand slams. Sometimes its not so much how many hits your get, but when you get them that is most important.

We will see, but nice to see the Ladies enjoy at least a modicum of success. Something to be said for learning how to win.

[1972Shocker]

Sloan hurls a four-hit shutout with three walks and two strikeouts. Three of those hits were doubles, but the Catamounts could not cash any of them. Sloan's ERA is now 1.38 and her WHIP is 1.03.

Are you sure Sloan had 3 walks? I don't see any walks on the live stats details. I think that was a key to Sloan's outing. She only faced 24 batters. And again Sloan kept the ball in the park. Always a big plus.

[flyingMoose]

Are you sure Sloan had 3 walks? I don't see any walks on the live stats details.

You are quite right - no walks. Who knows what I was looking at before. That makes her WHIP 0.98 - a pretty amazing number. But as hinted before, she did not pitch against UC Santa Barbara, Georgia Southern, Alabama or Mississippi State. She did pitch against Florida Gulf Coast, a 6-2 loss. I think those are the solid teams we have played to this point.

[flyingMoose]

Shockers v Coastal Carolina

Katie has this start. Of the changeable positions, Laura is at third, Erin is at first and Kaitlyn is in right. Megan, Danika and Paige are sitting to start this one.

In the first, although Melanie walks, steals second and advances on the catcher's throwing error, the Shocks cannot score her. The Chanticleers get a two-out single, but that runner is thrown out at the plate on a subsequent double. No score after one.

In the second, Layne has a two-out double but advances no further. No score after two.

Brittany and Melanie single, and with two outs, Hayley reaches on an infield error, scoring Brittany. Brianne follows with another single, scoring Melanie and Hayley. All three runs are unearned, but they stay on the scoreboard. Shocks lead, 3-0 in the middle of the third.

In the Chants half of the third, two singles and a stolen base put runners at the corners with two out, but Katie fans the conference PPOY. Shocks, 3-0 after three complete.

Same score after four.

In the Shocker fifth, Ali doubles and Brianne scores her with a single. Shocks lead, 4-0 in the middle of the fifth.

[1972Shocker]

The Shockers add a run in the 5th. Ali Vandever with a 1-out double scored on a 2-out RBI signle from Brianne Bond, her second 2-out RBI base hit. All 4 Shocker runs have scored with 2-outs.

As I posted earlier, when you get your hits is perhaps more important than how many hits you get.

Katie still in the circle for the Shocks.

Layne Greenlee with her 2nd homer of the day leading off the Shocker 6th to put the Shockers up 5-0. Perhaps a youny lady finding some confidence.

Erin Carney singles then advances to 3rd on a WP and PB. Kaitlyn Carey walked and promptly stole 2nd putting two runners in scoring position with no outs. Good job starting the inning from the bottom 3 in the lineup. Unfortunately the top of the lineup can not deliver. Fortner and Jaegers struck out and Vandever pop out to RF.

[flyingMoose]

Katie yields her first walk in the bottom of the fifth, part of the reason for her success in this one, but her two strikeouts run her total to five for the game. Shocks lead, 4-0 after five.

[flyingMoose]

Layne leads off the sixth with another homer, these two today being her first career homers.

Uh, family for real now.