Shocker SB at Bradley

[flyingMoose]

... at Edwardsville.

This series has become a double header to be played Saturday, starting at 1pm, on the diamond at SIU-Edwardsville. The Sunday game has been cancelled.

Bradley were a preseason pick for seventh in the Valley, third in the middle clump consisting of three teams. Their record at this point is 15-11, but because all but one of their tournaments has been out West, we have no common opponents. They have played six games against five ranked teams, beating #13 Arizona for their only win in those six games. But they have also played what appear to be a number of weak sisters. Their entire conference-opening series with Illinois State last weekend was cancelled, so they are 0-0 in the Valley.

The Braves team OPS is .802 v .778 for their opponents. They have three hitters with an OPS above .900, led by Bailiegh Basham, a member of the 2012 All-Tournament Team. The Shockers equivalent numbers are .690 and .742 with only Melanie above .800.

Bradley are led in the circle by Madeline Lynch-Crumrine, an All-Conference performer for the last two years and Pitcher of the Week once this year. Her ERA is 3.26 with a WHIP of 1.40. The team ERA is 4.16 v 4.49 for their opponents. The Shocks equivalent numbers are 2.56 and 2.99.

[1972Shocker]

... led by Bailiegh Basham, a member of the 2012 All-Tournament Team.

Bailiegh should definitely be in the running for the Valley All-Name team.

[SBFan]

Twitter say the double header is moved up to begin at noon.

[flyingMoose]

Game One

Shockers 0-2 Bradley

The Shockers are shutout by Madeline Lynch-Crumrine who tossed a three-hitter. Katie pitched well, yielding only five hits.

Bradley scored their two in the second on a walk, groundout, run-scoring double, single and sac fly. They also had threats in the fourth and fifth, two runners in scoring position, but Katie was able to hold them off. The Shocks had two mild threats: a runner at second with two out in the fifth and a runner at third (Danika had doubled) with one out in the sixth.

[Hovpen]

Katie loses a 2-0 5-hitter. Shocks get three hits.

[flyingMoose]

Game 2

Shockers 2-0 Bradley

The Shocks return the favor with a five-hit shutout by Sloan.

The Shockers scored in the fourth without benefit of a hit. Danika walked, advanced on a sac bunt and passed ball and scored on Brittany's groundout. They tacked on another run in the seventh when Erin doubled, advanced to third on Ali's bunt single and scored on the catcher's throwing error as Ali stole second. We had another threat in the sixth with runners at second and third with two out but failed to score.

Bradley's biggest threat came in the fifth. They loaded the bases with one out on three singles, but the runner advancing from second was thrown out by Kaitlyn after a caught fly ball, the out coming before the runner from third scored.


The third game of the series is cancelled due to our current weather reaching the St. Louis area tomorrow.

[1972Shocker]

Good job with coming back to split the DH with Bradley. Need to stockpile a few wins against the middle to bottom teams in the Valley.

You do have to be pleased with the improvement from both Katie and Sloan this year. Gives us a fighting chance. Now we need to try to find a little more production from the offense, although thay isn't going to happen overnight I don't think.