Shocker SB at UTSA Classic

[flyingMoose]

The Shockers travel to San Antonio for the UTSA Classic on Friday and Saturday.

The Shocks first game is against Rutgers on Friday at 1130a. The Scarlet Knights are tabbed the fifth of eight teams in the American Athletic Conference where the top three teams, Louisville, South Florida and Houston, all played in the NCAA Tournament last year. (Next year, Rutgers moves to the Big Ten.) Rutgers opens their 2014 campaign in San Antonio.

Later in the day at 7pm, the Shockers play the host Roadrunners. They opened their season by winning three games last weekend against Lamar with a game against 15/16 Texas tonight. UTSA is the pick for ninth in the thirteen-team Conference USA, one spot below LA Tech whom we played last weekend. Their catcher and an outfielder are on the Preseason All-Conference team.

The Shocks continue their tournament on Saturday at 9am with a game against the Cowgirls of Oklahoma State, a pick for fifth of the seven teams playing softball in the Big 12. Oklahoma State was 2-3 last weekend in a tournament hosted by LSU with two of the losses to now 21/21 LSU and 22/24 Minnesota.

Immediately following the 9am game, the Shockers conclude their tournament with a game against Colorado State. The Rams are member of the Mountain West Conference where they were picked fourth of nine teams. Ashlie Ortega was a Easton Fastpitch All-America second-teamer last year. They began their season at the Kajikawa Classic (hosted by Arizona State) with a 4-1 mark including a run-rule of Bradley and wins against Oregon State and Utah of the Pac 12.

[1972Shocker]

The Shocks continue their tournament on Saturday at 9am with a game against the Cowgirls of Oklahoma State, a pick for fifth of the seven teams playing softball in the Big 12.

I was unaware that only 7 schools play softball in the Big 12. I guess K-State, TCU and WVU do not field teams. They are probably happy that WVU doesn't have a team. Still somewhat surprising in a Football Conference considering Title IX issues. I guess KSU does have the Equestrian squad for women which does have about 50 members on the team roster. I don't know if they get to count the fillies and the mares in their Title IX calculations or not.

[flyingMoose]

I was unaware that only 7 schools play softball in the Big 12. I guess K-State, TCU and WVU do not field teams. They are probably happy that WVU doesn't have a team. Still somewhat surprising in a Football Conference considering Title IX issues. I guess KSU does have the Equestrian squad for women which does have about 50 members on the team roster. I don't know if they get to count the fillies and the mares in their Title IX calculations or not.

In the Pac 12, Colorado, Washington State and Southern Cal do not play softball, a bit of a surprise given the amount and level of softball on the West Coast.

[1972Shocker]

In the Pac 12, Colorado, Washington State and Southern Cal do not play softball, a bit of a surprise given the amount and level of softball on the West Coast.

USC is especially surprising considering the recruiting base and weather.

[flyingMoose]

the host Roadrunners ... with a game against 15/16 Texas tonight.

UTSA 4-2 Texas

[Hovpen]

Would love to see them go 2-2 in this one. Most definitely an upgrade in competition from last weekend. While I'm not a fan of play angry, I would like to see them play intensely and compete. If they are in a position to win in the last two innings, then the coaching staff has got them prepared. I wish we could watch the games via streaming.

[flyingMoose]

Tournament Central

Live Stats, of course, and broadcasts of UTSA games, but no streaming, it appears.

[flyingMoose]

Early Friday game:

Rutgers 2-4 Colorado State
After Rutgers scratched out a 2-0 lead with singles and walks, the Rams came roaring back with two outs and no one on in the bottom of the seventh. Single, single, game-tying triple, home run.

[flyingMoose]

Rutgers 9-1(5) Shockers

Sloan got the start for the Shocks, giving up a big fly after an error in the first inning for two Scarlet Knight runs.

Megan McCracken led off the second inning with a homer for the Shockers. But a homer, double and single brought on Jenni Brooks in relief of Sloan with one out in the third. Three more singles yielded three more runs for a 6-1 Scarlet Knight lead.

The hit parade for Rutgers continued in the fourth with three singles and another run, the inning ending with a line-drive double play.

After a single and stolen base in the fifth, Hunter Stohlmeyer came on in relief of Jenni. Two doubles scored two runs, giving Rutgers a 9-1 lead and setting up a run-rule game. Kelli Spring managed her second single of the game in the bottom of the fifth, but the Shockers could not score.

To this point in the young season, only Kaitlyn Malone has managed a decent pitching outing (once in two tries). The pitching is young, but it needs to get better in a hurry.

The Shocks are next scheduled for a 7pm start against UTSA.

[1972Shocker]

To this point in the young season, only Kaitlyn Malone has managed a decent pitching outing (once). The pitching is young, but it needs to get better in a hurry.

Kaitlyn really has just had one bad inning. We'll see how she does against this step-up in competition. Jenni doesn't seem to be able to get people out at this level and Hunter is apparently #4 on the depth chart. Sloan is perhaps an adequate #2 pitcher. But you're right if we don't get our pitching fixed we simply are not going to show much improvement. Hopefully, we just had a bad game, but allowing 14 hits in 5 innings simply isn't going to get it done and is not very encouraging. Thank goodness we didn't have any walks. At this point it looks like Sloan and Kaitlyn will be carrying the load this year.

[flyingMoose]

In-between Friday games:

Colorado State 3-6 Oklahoma State
The Cowgirls had a grand slam homer in the second inning on their way to a 6-0 lead. The Rams tallied in the sixth and seven innings but could not catch up.

Oklahoma State 5-3 UTSA
Oklahoma State scored four in the top of the sixth to overtake the Roadrunners.

[Hovpen]

Goddard's Shelby Davis is having a good year for OSU.

[1972Shocker]

HCKB had Kaitlyn on a very short leash. Sloan doing well in relief. Tied 1-1 after 3.

Had to chuckle at UTSA using the Washington State logo and colors for the Shocks on their live stats.

[1972Shocker]

Live stats seems to be locked up after 5 innings with the Shocks leading 2-1 over UTSA.

[Hovpen]

Ouch, Up 2-1 with two outs in the bottom of 7 and a pinch hit HR ties it. Malone got called for an illegal pitch after two walks. That could have done it.