Shocker SB v Loyola

[flyingMoose]

The Shockers open their conference season hosting a weekend series against Loyola-Chicago, who are in their first year in the conference. A double header starts at noon on Saturday, and a single game begins at the same time on Sunday.

The Ramblers are a preseason pick for sixth in the Valley, while the Shockers are eighth. Loyola's record this year is 9-13, splitting two games with Western Illinois among common opponents. They just completed a spring-break swing through California, beating Cal and losing twice to 3/3 UCLA among the games played. Brittany Gardner and Ashley Rogers are their primary pitchers with Gardner earning First Team All-Conference honors three times in the Horizon League. But both pitchers have an ERA above 5.00 (5.05 and 5.92, respectively) with WHIPs of 1.72 and 1.80. Jessica Balzano is the leading hitter for the Ramblers with a batting average of .358 and OPS of .910. Brie Pasquale's numbers are .274 and .870.

The Shockers' leading hitters are PaigeL (.415 and 1.280), Cacy (.397 and 1.297) and PaigeM (.364 and 1.017). Despite her win-loss record, Sloan leads the staff with an ERA of 3.67 and WHIP of 1.27. Kaitlyn's numbers are 5.25 and 1.91.

[1972Shocker]

Game 1: Loyola 5 - Shockers 1

RH Fr. Kaitlyn Malone in the circle for the Shocks. LH Sr. Brittany Gardner for the Ramblers.

1st: The 1st 2 Loyola batters reached on a walk and an infield single. Kaitlyn worked out of the jam with strike out, fly out to LF and a grounder to 3B for an unassisted force at third. Shocks went quietly with 2 strikeouts in the 1st.

2nd: Loyola put 2 on again with a 1-out single and a 2-out walk but Kaitlyn ended the inning with strikeout. 3-up, 3-down for the Shocks.

3rd: Kaitlyn gave up a 1-out walk but nothing else. For the Shocks 8-hole hitter Ali Vandever opened the inning with a single to right. Ashley Johnson reached on a error by the Loyola 3B putting runners on 1st and 2nd with no outs. Cacy Williams grounded out to 2B but advanced the runners to 2nd and 3rd. Kelli Spring followed with an uncharacteristic strike-out. However, Liz Broyles picked her up with a single to RF scoring Ali, but Ashley was out C to 3rd base to end the inning. Shocks take a 1-0 lead.

4th: Kaitlyn works around a 1-out triple to keep the Rambles scoreless. Shocks go down in order.

5th: With 1-out the Ramblers get to Kaitlyn with a 1-out double followed by a home run. The Ramblers also got a 2-out single before Kaitlyn recorded the 3rd out on a pop-up to SS. With 1-out Ali walked and Ahsley reached on an error to put runner at 1st and 2nd, Cacy popped to 2B and Kelli grounded out to 3B. Loyola 2 - Shocks 1.

6th: Kaitlyn gives up a lead-off triple to Olivia Bell, her 2nd triple and 3rd hit of the game. Sloan comes on in relief. Sloan got a strike out and a pop to 3B but then allowed a 2-out double to score Bell from 3rd before getting the 3rd out. 1-out singles by Paige Luellen and Brittany Fortner gave the Shocks a chance. Molly Baker pinch-hitting for Paige Mason flied to right with both runners advancing. Melanie Jaegers was unable to deliver the big 2-out hit as she grounded out to SS. Loyola 3 - Shocks 1.

7th: Sloan got the 1st two Rambler hitters but then gave up a walk followed by her old nemesis, the home run, making a Shocker comeback very difficult and unlikely. Shocks down in order.

Loyola Line Score: 5R, 9H, 2E, 8LOB
Shocker Line Score: 1R, 4H, 0E, 6LOB

[SHOXAAC]

Game 1: Loyola 5 - Shockers 1

RH Fr. Kaitlyn Malone in the circle for the Shocks. LH Sr. Brittany Gardner for the Ramblers.

1st: The 1st 2 Loyola batters reached on a walk and an infield single. Kaitlyn worked out of the jam with strike out, fly out to LF and a grounder to 3B for an unassisted force at third. Shocks went quietly with 2 strikeouts in the 1st.

2nd: Loyola put 2 on again with a 1-out single and a 2-out walk but Kaitlyn ended the inning with strikeout. 3-up, 3-down for the Shocks.

3rd: Kaitlyn gave up a 1-out walk but nothing else. For the Shocks 8-hole hitter Ali Vandever opened the inning with a single to right. Ashley Johnson reached on a error by the Loyola 3B putting runners on 1st and 2nd with no outs. Cacy Williams grounded out to 2B but advanced the runners to 2nd and 3rd. Kelli Spring followed with an uncharacteristic strike-out. However, Liz Broyles picked her up with a single to RF scoring Ali, but Ashley was out C to 3rd base to end the inning. Shocks take a 1-0 lead.

4th: Kaitlyn works around a 1-out triple to keep the Rambles scoreless. Shocks go down in order.

5th: With 1-out the Ramblers get to Kaitlyn with a 1-out double followed by a home run. The Ramblers also got a 2-out single before Kaitlyn recorded the 3rd out on a pop-up to SS. With 1-out Ali walked and Ahsley reached on an error to put runner at 1st and 2nd, Cacy popped to 2B and Kelli grounded out to 3B. Loyola 2 - Shocks 1.

6th: Kaitlyn gives up a lead-off triple to Olivia Bell, her 2nd triple and 3rd hit of the game. Sloan comes on in relief. Sloan got a strike out and a pop to 3B but then allowed a 2-out double to score Bell from 3rd before getting the 3rd out. 1-out singles by Paige Luellen and Brittany Fortner gave the Shocks a chance. Molly Baker pinch-hitting for Paige Mason flied to right with both runners advancing. Melanie Jaegers was unable to deliver the big 2-out hit as she grounded out to SS. Loyola 3 - Shocks 1.

7th: Sloan got the 1st two Rambler hitters but then gave up a walk followed by her old nemesis, the home run, making a Shocker comeback very difficult and unlikely. Shocks down in order.

Loyola Line Score: 5R, 9H, 2E, 8LOB
Shocker Line Score: 1R, 4H, 0E, 6LOB

SHOXMVC enjoying a day at the ball park. I was asked to fill in as PA announcer for today's DH. I hope I'm not bad luck. Come on SHOX, let's rebound.

[1972Shocker]

SHOXMVC enjoying a day at the ball park. I was asked to fill in as PA announcer for today's DH. I hope I'm not bad luck. Come on SHOX, let's rebound.

I hope you're doing your best Ted Woodward impression. Not sure luck has as much to do with it as does the quality of pitching.

[SHOXAAC]

I hope you're doing your best Ted Woodward impression. Not sure luck has as much to do with it as does the quality of pitching.

Just trying to stay sober and annunciate. Yea, the long ball was a problem for us in game 1.

[SHOXAAC]

SHOX get a run in the bottom of the first to take a 1-0 lead.

[SHOXAAC]

Loyola scores 4 in top of 2nd to take a 4-1 lead.

[1972Shocker]

Game 2:

Kaitlyn Malone starting in the circle for the Shocks. RH Jr. Amanda Ciran for the Ramblers.

1st: Kind of a wild start for Kaitlyn. A lead-off double, followed by a passed ball followed by a walk put Ramblers on the corners with no outs. A strike and and pop out to the C gave Kaitlyn an opportunity to escape. Kaitlyn hit the next batter to load the bases but induced a grounder to 2B to leave the bases loaded. An 1-out infield single by Ashley Johnson, followed by a double by Liz Broyles put Shockers on 2nd and 3rd. Ashley scored as Paige Luellen reached on a fielder's choice. Not sure what happened there but sounds like Ashley beat a throw to the plate. Brittany Fortner walked but Molly Baker grounded into a force at 3B to end the inning. Shockers 1 - Loyola 0.

2nd: Kaitlyn walked the leadoff batter who advanced to 2nd on a passed ball. Apparently that was enough for Coach KB as she brought in, somewhat surprisingly, Jenni Brooks to relieve Kaitlyn. that move didn't work out too well. Jenni hit 2 of the first 3 batters she faced to load the bases with one out and then gave up a bases-clearing double with the hitter advancing to 3rd on an error by Ashley Johnson in CF. A sacrifice fly plated a 4th run for the Ramblers.
The Shocks took advantage of some Loyola charity in their half of the inning. Melanie and Ali walked to lead off the inning. Kelli ground to 3B with the runners advancing to 2nd and 3rd. Cacy reached on an error by the SS scoring Melanie. Ashley, who seems to put a lot of pressure on the defense, reached on an error by the pitcher with Ali scoring and Cacy going to 3rd. Ashley then stole second to put runners at 2nd and 3rd with only 1 out. Unfortunately, the Shocks could not capitalize as Liz struck out and PaigeL flied to LF. Loyola 4 - Shocks 3.

I hear some thunder. Weather delay? Now it's raining at my location about 5 miles east southeast of the stadium.

[SHOXAAC]

30 minute anticipated delay...re-evaluate around 4. Tarp is out.

[SHOXAAC]

Rain & hail at 21st & Hillside.

[SHOXAAC]

Tarps up at 4:45, restart at around 5:15.

[flyingMoose]

Running errands during the weather delay and dropped by the house.

Game 2:
Ashley scored as Paige Luellen reached on a fielder's choice. Not sure what happened there but sounds like Ashley beat a throw to the plate.

Paige squibbed a ball to the first baseman who made the throw to the plate. The ump made the correct call - Safe - but it was a gutsy call since the throw beat the runner with the tag being just a hair late. I think most expected an Out call, but the ump made the correct call.

Also Jenni has a sleeve of some sort on her right arm, her pitching arm. She hasn't pitched in awhile, and the sleeve supports my suspicions that she has been injured during this time. But, boy, she is going to have to throw her change-up a lot!

[SHOXAAC]

Lightening strikes within 10 miles keeps starting the required delay over. Tarp still on the field.

[flyingMoose]

Just left the field. Scheduled start time is now 730pm.

[1972Shocker]

Shocks break out of 5-5 tie in the bottom of the 5th on a bases-loaded triple by Layne Greenlee who was hitting 0.105 on the season. Perhaps that will give her a boost of confidence.

Jenni Brooks has pitched pretty effectively after the 4-run second.

Shocks 8 - Loyola 5 after 5.