Shocker SB at Best Western Classic (North Texas)

[flyingMoose]

The Shockers are one of three teams at the Best Western Classic this weekend, a tournament hosted by North Texas. With only three teams, the tournament is a double round-robin with the games played Saturday and Sunday. Tournament Central is here.

The Mean Green of North Texas are members of Conference USA where they were picked fifth of thirteen teams. North Texas has a 12-3 record and has claimed a Conference Player of the the Week and Pitcher of the Week in the first three weeks of the season. Two of their losses were to 23 Georgia, and two of their wins are over Northern Iowa. All of the rest of the teams they have played appear to be undistinguished.

McNeese State, the third team in the tournament, are members of the Southland Conference, a ten-team conference. They were picked as second in the conference coaches' poll and first in the SID poll, but it was almost a dead heat in each poll. The Cowgirls have three returning all-conference players, including their pitching ace, Jamie Allred. They have twice had the Hitter of the Week and once had the Pitcher of the Week. Their record is 10-7 but includes three wins over ranked teams, including a win over 7 Alabama and Jackie Traina this past weekend.

The Shockers play at noon and 230pm on Saturday and at 9am and 2pm on Sunday.

[flyingMoose]

Shockers 0-3 McNeese State

Sloan got the start and gave up a first-pitch homer in the bottom of the first.

Walks led to two Shocker runners in the first and second, but we could not dent the plate.

The Cowgirls had another homer to lead off the third - second pitch this time. They then loaded the bases on two walks and a hit-batter, but Sloan struck out the next three to escape the jam.

In the fourth for the Shocks, PaigeM was hit by a pitch and advanced to second on a sac bunt. Ali's single (our first hit of the game) moved her to third, but a ground out, intentional walk to load the bases and pop up left her stranded there.

The Shocks had two runners in each of the fifth and sixth innings but could not score. McNeese State tallied another run in the sixth on a hit-by-pitch, steal, sac bunt and sac fly.

The Shockers were three-up, three-down in the seventh.

The only hits for the Shocks were singles by Ali and PaigeM. They could not take advantage of five walks and two hit-batters. Sloan only gave up four hits and two walks and had eight strikeouts, a decent performance.

[flyingMoose]

North Texas 4-5 Shockers

Katie had the start in this game. A single and double scored a run for the Mean Green in the first.

The Shocks tied the game in the second: lead-off double by PaigeM, sac bunt and infield error.

Then they took the lead in the fourth on a single by PaigeM and a homer by PaigeL. Shockers lead 3-1 after four innings.

North Texas tied the game in the sixth on a single, error, single, RBI fielder's choice and sac fly.

In the bottom of the sixth, Liz and PaigeL singled with one out, and the Mean Green changed pitchers. After a second out and a passed ball, Ali singled them both home, the Shocks retaking the lead.

In the North Texas seventh, Sloan came on in relief after a lead-off walk by Katie. After a strike out and fly out, back-to-back singles scored one run, but Sloan got the last out on another fly out.

Katie got the win, giving up six hits, a walk and three earned runs. Sloan earned her second save of the season. The Shockers had seven hits with PaigeM and PaigeL each having two hits. PaigeL and Ali each had two RBI.

[Hovpen]

Moose, u need to clean out your private message folder.

This was a good day for shocker softball. North Texas had won 11 straight and McNeese State has some quality wins including one over Alabama. (RPI)

#improvement??

[flyingMoose]

Moose, u need to clean out your private message folder.

Thanks. I did not realize Sent Messages counted against my max. Try again.

[flyingMoose]

Other Saturday game

McNeese State 5-2(8) North Texas
In a matchup of the staff aces, each team scored in the sixth. With the ITB in use in the eighth, the Cowgirls scored four unearned runs to ease to the win.

[flyingMoose]

For the second straight week, Sunday games are cancelled.