Shocker SB at Unconquered Classic (Florida State)

[flyingMoose]

This weekend, the Shockers travel to Tallahassee to play in a tournament hosted by 10/10 Florida State, the second of two "Come to Florida, the weather is nice this time of year, mostly" tournaments the Seminoles host.

The Shocks play their first game at 130pm CT on Friday against UC Santa Barbara. The Gauchos were picked fourth in the eight-team Big West Conference. Their record is 6-3 and their pitcher Shelby Wisdom, was Pitcher of the Week this past week.

The Shockers return to the diamond in the evening for a 630pm matchup with Charleston Southern, members of the Big South Conference. They were picked fifth of nine teams, although they did receive one first-place vote. Their record is 6-2-1, but the competition appears to be similar to what we saw in Louisiana.

On Saturday, we have another game against Charleston Southern at 1pm followed by a game against Florida A&M at 330pm. The Rattlers are members of the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC) and have a record of 1-9.

The Shockers close out the tourney with a game against the host Seminoles on Sunday at 8am. Their record is 10-1 with a game tonight against 7-0 UCF. They were the preseason pick for first in the ACC and have already had a Player of the Week and Pitcher of the Week in the first two weeks of the season.

UNI is also at this tournament, but we don't play them, the usual arrangement in these tournaments.

[1972Shocker]

Shocks lead Charleston Southern 2-1 after 3. Fr. Kaitlyn Malone in he circle for the Shocks.

Shocks blew a great opportunity in the 2nd after getting their 1st 2 batters on base.

CSU took a 1-0 lead in the bottom of the 2nd on bases-loaded walk.

A Spring walk, Broyles double and Fortner double plated 2 runs for the Shocks in the 3rd.

[1972Shocker]

Cacy Williams puts the Shocks up 3-1 with a 2-out RBI single in the top of the 4th. After Cacy singled, a Spring walk and an infield single by Broyles loaded the bases for the Shocks but they were unable to take further advantage as a ground out to 2nd ended the inning.

Kaitlyn works around a lead-off double in the bottom of the 4th inducing a pop to SS, foul pop to 3B and a strike-out.

[1972Shocker]

Shocks fail to capitalize on a good scoring opportunity in the 5th. With runners on 2nd and 3rd with one out pinch hitters Brianne Bond and Macklin Hitz struck out an grounded out to end the threat.

Hopefully, the couple of missed opportunities they have let slip by won't come back to haunt them.

Kaitlyn runs into some trouble in the bottom of the 5th. After she struck-out the lead-off batter she gave up back-to-back-to-back singles to load the bases with 1 out. A wild pitch scored a run and move the runners up to 2nd and 3rd. A squeeze play resulting in an out at home and Kaitlyn struck out the next batter to escape relatively unscathed.

Shocks 3 - CSU 2 after 5.

[flyingMoose]

Tournament Central

The schedule has been changed. As recorded above by @1972Shocker:, the Shockers are playing Charleston Southern now. Then immediately following, they will play UC Santa Barbara.

The games for Saturday (Charleston Southern and Florida A&M) and Sunday (Florida State) remain the same.

[flyingMoose]

Again the Shocks get the first two runners on to start the sixth and eventually load the bases with two out, but PaigeL is called out on strikes. Sloan is on the start the bottom of the sixth.

[1972Shocker]

Shocks again fail to take advantage of a great scoring opportunity in the 6th. Cacy Williams reach safely on an error. Kelli Spring laid down a bunt single to put runners at 1st and 2nd with no outs. Liz Williams struck out (I don't know if she tried to bunt or not). Paige Mason ground to 1st for the 2nd out moving the runners to 2nd and 3rd. Brittany Fortner walked on a 3-2 count to load the bases but Paige Luellen struck-out on a 3-2 count to end the threat.

Sloan Anderson has come on in relief of Kaitlyn in the bottom of the 6th. Good job by Kaitlyn. Quite frankly her offense should have produced several more runs for her.

Sloan with a 1-2-3 bottom of the 6th.

Shocks 3 - CSU 2.

[1972Shocker]

@flyingMoose: I will let you finish this off. That way if the Shocks lose we will know who to blame. :excitement:

[1972Shocker]

Wow! Finish that one off @flyingMoose:.

[flyingMoose]

Shockers 3-2 Charleston Southern

Begging indulgence from @1972Shocker, I will post a full summary for the late arrivers.

Kaitlyn started this one. In the second inning, the Shocks started off with two singles and had runners at second and third with one out, but did not score. CSU scored one on a bases-loaded walk following two singles and a fielder's choice.

The Shockers countered with two runs in the top of the third: walk to Kelli, run-scoring double by Liz, run-scoring double by Brittany.

They added to their lead with a run in the fourth. Melanie walked, advanced to second on a sac bunt and scored on a single by Cacy. We proceeded to load the bases on a walk and infield single, but could not score.

Leadoff singles by Brittany and PaigeL and a sac bunt gave us runners at second and third in the fifth, but we failed to score. In the bottom of the inning, three singles and a wild pitch scored one run for the Buccaneers, but a tying run was out at the plate on a squeeze play.

In the sixth, we again got the first two runners on but could not score. Sloan came on in relief of Kaitlyn to start the inning and retired CSU 1-2-3.

In the bottom of the seventh, things got dicey. CSU loaded the bases with no outs on two singles and a fielder's choice. But Sloan got the next three batters on two strike outs and a ground out to close out the game and earn a save.

The Shockers had ten hits, three by Brittany and two each by Kelli, Liz and PaigeL. Kaitlyn got the win, giving up two earned runs and six hits in her five innings of work. She struck out four and walked two. Sloan had three strike outs in her two innings of work.

[1972Shocker]

All of those lost scoring opportunities (2nd, 4th, 5th and 6th innings) almost came back to bite us but @flyingMoose: comes through with the save as did Sloan.

Pretty solid outing by Kaitlyn Malone.

Shocks need to figure out how to better capitalize on their scoring opportunities. Although the same thing could be said for CSU in a couple of innings.

A good gut check win for the Shocks.

[flyingMoose]

UC Santa Barbara 2-1 Shockers

Sloan has this start. The Gauchos score one in the top of the first on a single, stolen base and single. The Shocks tie the game in the third. Two singles and a walk load the bases, and Cacy scores on a wild pitch.

UCSB takes the lead in the top of the fifth with a leadoff homer. Two other runners reach on double and a walk, but no further damage is done. In the bottom of the fifth, the Gauchos bring on another pitcher, and we have yet to see their ace. (UCSB plays Northern Iowa tonight.) In the Shocker fifth, a couple of infield singles were sandwiched around a caught-stealing.

In the Shocker sixth, Liz walks and her pinch-runner, Ashley Johnson, is sacrificed to second. PaigeM singles to center, but Ashley is thrown out at the plate.

Two strike outs and a line out to short for the Shocks in the bottom of the seventh end the game.

Sloan gave up five hits and walked two, a very creditable performance. PaigeM had two singles among the Shocker's six hits.

[1972Shocker]

Decent pitching in today's games and solid defense (no errors in two games). That probably can work in the Valley but we need to be little more productive scoring runs.

[flyingMoose]

Other Friday games

Charleston Southern 2-8 Florida State
The Seminoles scored three in the first and were never threatened.

Northern Iowa 4-1 Florida A&M
The Panthers scored three in the second and allowed the Rattlers only two hits.

UC Santa Barbara 15-1 Northern Iowa
Shelby Wisdom, the Gaucho ace, held UNI to five hits, and Panther errors (seven for the game) led to ten unearned runs in the seventh for UCSB.

[1972Shocker]

Shocks scoring some runs this morning against Florida A&M including a 7 run 3rd inning with the help of 2 errors by FAM to take a 9-2 lead after 3.

Kaitlyn pitched the 1st 3 innings and then the brought in Hunter after the Shocks grabbed then big lead. Hunter gave up 4 hits and 3 runs in the 4th. I hate to say it but Hunter may be in a little over her head at the D-1 level.

Kaitlyn re-enters in the circle in the bottom of the 5th after the Shocks scored 2 unearned runs in the top of the inning to take an 11-5 lead.

Kaitlyn promptly gives up 4 unearned runs back to the Rattlers in the bottom of the 5th although she did allow 2 doubles and 2 singles in the inning. Shocks lead 11-9 after 5 innings.

An ugly game today. Both teams have committed 4 errors. The Shocks played to 2 error-free games yesterday. So much for consistency.