Shocker SB at Southern Illinois

[flyingMoose]

The Shockers continue their conference schedule with a weekend in Carbondale against the Salukis, the game(s) beginning at noon both days.

In the preseason poll, Southern Illinois were picked in a tie for first with Illinois State, receiving two of the ten first-place votes. UNI and Creighton were very close behind in the poll. They are, however, having a rough start to conference play, standing at 2-5. They lost two to Drake and two to UNI (the third games being cancelled) before taking two of three from Illinois State. Their conference slate has started by playing the opposite end of the poll from the Shockers. The Salukis have four players on the Preseason All-Conference Team.

Their overall mark is 14-18. They were 1-4 at the Florida Gulf Coast tournament. (We were there at the same time but did not play each other.) Their lone win was against Georgia Southern, but they also had a loss against GSU as well as losses to Alabama, FGU and Appalachian State. Other games of interest are a win against #14 South Florida and a loss to SIU-Edwardsvile.

Their offense is led by Morgan Barchan (OPS of .995) and Jayna Spivey (OPS of .969, 8 HRs), two of the four picks mentioned above. Almost all of their innings pitched belong to Brittney Lang and Alyssa Wundrlich, but both have an ERA above 4.00 and a WHIP above 1.50.

On another note, Kaitlyn Carey has been suspended indefinitely for a violation of team rules.

[Hovpen]

Couple side notes: 2014 Shocker recruit Morgan Bohanan opened her season by hitting three home runs Friday night at Andover.
2013 recruit Jenny Brooks won her first game on the mound against the toughest opponent she will face all year in Olathe Northwest.

[WuDrWu]

Recruits or commitments?

[flyingMoose]

Game One

Shockers 6-7 Southern Illinois

Katie is in the circle for the Shocks and Brittney Lang for the Salukis.

The defense has definitely been shuffled around. Abby Furstenberg is at first, Laura at short, Ali at third, Erin in left and Brittany in center. Melanie catching, Hayley at second and Danika in right are at their typical positions. Abby is the only new bat in the lineup.

Southern Illinois scored single runs in the first four innings using six hits and a walk while the Shocks only managed two hits during those innings. In the fifth, the Shockers managed to get runners at second and third on Erin's double and Abby's single, but Danika grounded into a double play.

The Shocker bats truly came to life in the sixth when they scored four runs to tie the game. Singles by Melanie, Ali, Laura and Hayley scored one run and brought on Saluki #3. GT is garbled at this point, but #3 IP'd in one run and Brianne doubled home two more.

In the seventh, we scored two more runs off the third Saluki pitcher of the game. Hayley and Erin both singled in a run. Alas, SIU came back with three runs. Katie gave up a two-run homer (her second homer yielded on the day) and hit a batter. Sloan came on to give up two singles, the last scoring the winning run.

Katie gave up eight hits, among them a double, a triple and two homers, and three walks with all seven runs being earned. The Shocks had fourteen hits, three by Melanie and Erin (a double) and two by Laura and Hayley. Brianne had an RBI double.

[flyingMoose]

Game Two

Shockers 6-14(6) Southern Illinois

Sloan gets the start for the Shockers and Alyssa Wunderlich, the winning pitcher in game one, is in the circle for the Salukis. Molly Baker is in right in this game, replacing Danika. All other positions are the same, including Abby at first base.

As you might expect from the score, all three pitchers on each staff saw action in this one. Sloan only lasted one-third of an inning (five singles and a double, four runs) before Hunter came on. The Shocks had scored one in the top of the first on Melanie's single, a ground out and Alis' double.

Hunter led off the fourth by issuing two walks, bringing on Katie. After an error, she gave up a grand slam homer. SIU, 8-4 after four innings.

Hayley homered in the fifth. In the bottom half, after two walks and an error, Sloan re-entered. To no avail, the Salukis score four in this one, too.

In the sixth, Brianne singled, her pinch-runner Kacie Eich advanced to third on an illegal pitch and passed ball and then scored on Hayley's single. But Sloan gave up a homer, double and single for two runs and the ball game by the runs-ahead rule.

Though Hunter gave up a hit and four walks in two and a third, she was easily the most effective Shocker pitcher in this game. Hayley had three hits and Ali two, including a double. Erin's triple was the other extra base hit. Erin and Hayley both had two RBI.

When you score six runs in both games, it is really disappointing not to come away with at least one win.

The last game of the series starts tomorrow at noon.

[flyingMoose]

Game Three

Shockers 6-2 Southern Illinois

The Shockers scored six runs for a third time this series, but this time earned in a win.

Katie got the start in the circle. Megan McCracken got the start at first base, and Molly Baker remained in right field.

The Shocks got two in the second when Molly doubled home Megan and Laura after a hit batter and single, respectively. Then they scored two more in the third when Ali and Erin singled, advanced on a ground out and then scored on Brianne's single.

The Shockers plated another run in the fifth on a walk to Erin, her stolen base, an error and a ground out. The Saluki offense came to life in the bottom half. After two were out, two walks and a fielder's choice loaded the bases before a two-run single. At this point, Sloan came on to close out the inning.

The Shocks scored their final run on Hayley's single, a passed ball, a sac bunt and Brittany's double. Sloan finished up with no further damage.

Katie gave up four hits and five walks in four and two-thirds. Sloan yielded two hits and got the save. Melanie and Laura each had two singles among the Shocker's ten hits, while Brianne had three RBI and Molly had two.

[1972Shocker]

Too bad we let Game 1 get away from us. Would have been nice to win this series.