Shocker SB v Illinois State

[flyingMoose]

The Shockers host the Redbirds this weekend in a doubleheader on Saturday and a single game on Sunday. Coach Melinda Fisher won her 900th game as the Illinois State head coach last Friday with a victory in their first game against Bradley.

Illinois State have a 7-5 record in the Valley, while the Shocks stand at 6-7. Along with Southern Illinois, ISU Red were a pick for first in the preseason poll, receiving two first place votes. In earlier conference series, they won one game against SIU, two from Missouri State, two against Bradley with a game to play, one versus Drake and one against Indiana State with a doubleheader to come. They will also play Creighton a doubleheader on Monday, recouping two games of a three-game series lost to weather earlier in the year.

The Redbirds have three Preseason All-Conference picks in Jhavon Hamilton, Elizabeth Kay and Lauren Kellar. Kay leads the offense (OPS of 1.313, 10 HRs), aided and abetted by Laura Canopy (OPS of 1.145, 8 HRs) and Hamilton (OPS of .988).

Taylor Baxter and Regan Romshek have all of the team's starts in the circle this year. Baxter has an ERA of 3.14 and a WHIP of 1.55 with Romshek's numbers at 3.97 and 1.64.

This weekend is an opportunity for the Shockers to show some progress against a program that is a perennial power in the Valley.

[WuDrWu]

I know somebody will give a better breakdown, but Jr. Erin Carney from Andale (what does @Hovpen: say about local girls?) goes yard in the bottom of the 8th to give the Shocks a 5-4 win.

Game 2 in about 30 minutes.

#PlayAngry

[flyingMoose]

Game One

Illinois State 4-5(8) Shockers

Katie was in the circle for this one. On defense, we were back to Erin at third, Laura in center, Megan at first and Danika in right.

The Shocks got off to a rough start in the top of the first as a walk, error, hit batter, two-run single and another error plated three runs, only one of which was earned.

But the Shocks bounced back with three of their own in the bottom half. Brittney's walk, an illegal pitch, a single by Melanie and her stolen base set up Ali's two-run single. Ali advanced to third on two more illegal pitches before scoring on Brianne's single.

The Shockers took the lead in the third on back-to-back doubles by Erin and Hayley.

The Redbirds continued to threaten but Katie was able to hold them off. They loaded the bases with one out in the second, a lead-off double was out trying to make a triple out of it in the third, runners at second and third with one out and the bases loaded with two outs in the fourth and runners at second and third with one out in the sixth.

But the Katie-magic ended in the seventh when a single, ground out and single by Illinois State scored the tying run with two outs.

In the eighth the Redbirds again had two runners on, but a pop out and ground out got Katie out of the inning. Then Erin hit a walk-off homer, her first of the year, to lead off the bottom of the inning for a hard-fought win.

Katie gave up seven hits and six walks to go along with nine strike outs. The Redbirds stranded thirteen. This was a well-earned win for Katie after often pitching with little run support. Her ability to pitch out of multiple jams was great to see.

The Shocks had nine hits with Ali, Erin and Hayley having two hits each.

[1972Shocker]

Those back-to-back doubles by Erin and Hayley in the 3rd proved to be key and came with 2 outs.

Wasn't pretty but this is a very nice win for the Ladies. :encouragement:

[WuDrWu]

Game 2 is not going well. A run rule looks imminent.

[1972Shocker]

Sloan started the year pretty well, but she seems to be struggling recently.

In her last 4 outings she had one good relief appearance going 2.1 scoreless against SIU. However, in the other three outings against SIU, UNI and through the 1st 3 innings today she has allowed 24 runs (20 earned) on 28 hits in 7 innings of work.

Not sure what is going on with Sloan but hopefully she can get things figured out because HCKB really has no place else to turn. Hunter certainly doesn't seem to be ready for prime time.

[flyingMoose]

Game Two

Illinois State 15-2(5) Shockers

Sloan started this one with Abby replacing Megan at first.

The hits went on and on and on. Unfortunately, not enough of them were ours.

A double, illegal pitch and sac fly scored one in the first for the Redbirds. The first six batters reached in the second for Illinois State before Hunter came on to walk the next two, bringing Sloan back in for the rest of the beat-down. ISU Red scored seven, three, two and two over the next four innings.

The Shocks scored their two in the third on a homer by Abby and then later in the inning, a single by Melanie and Ali's double.

Sloan gave up sixteen hits, six of them for extra bases. Re the question of @1972Shocker:, does the conference understand Sloan's junker style of pitching better than out-of-conference foes and just hit her a lot better? I hope not; I hope this is something fixable.

Hunter has a knee that bothers her at times and will be operated on after the season. I wonder if her knee would just not let her go today. Else surely she would have eaten some of these innings. Melanie had two of our seven hits.

Given the baserunners the Redbirds manufactured today, we are fortunate to get the one win. Hopefully, Katie can have another strong outing tomorrow.

[1972Shocker]

Interestingly, Erin Carney's walk off home in Game 1 was her 1st round-tripper this year after leading the Shocks with 9 home runs last year. Hopefully, that will get Erin going a little bit over the remainder of the season.

[flyingMoose]

Game Three

Illinois State 7-3 Shockers

Katie has the start and Abby is at first, giving us the same offensive lineup we had in the second game.

Just like yesterday, the Redbirds broke on top with three runs and like yesterday, the Shocks came back to tie the game. (Unfortunately, the similarities stop there.)

In the third, Illinois State loaded the bases on two walks and a single. Another single plated two runs, the third run scoring on a misplay of the single by Laura in center.

The Shockers replied with two runs in the bottom half of the third when Laura walked and Abby was hit by a pitch. Danika moved them up with a sac bunt, and Laura scored on Brittany's single. Abby then scored when Ali reached on an error by the pitcher. In the fourth, Hayley tied the game with a lead-off home run.

However, in the sixth the Redbirds took the lead on a single and homer and then repeated that performance in the seventh. Sloan came on to finish the inning. The Shocks were three up, three down in the bottom of the seventh.

Katie went 6.1, giving up six earned runs on eight hits and seven walks. Hayley had two of our four hits.