Shocker SB v Creighton

[flyingMoose]

The Shockers stay in Omaha and play former Valley member Creighton in a single game on Wednesday at 4pm. As with UNO, this is also a home opener. The Creighton game notes are here.

Creighton is now a member of the Big East where they were a preseason pick for second behind DePaul among the eight teams. Their record is 15-10 with wins over then 24 Cal and a loss to 7 Arizona State and two losses to 21 Tulsa. They also have a win over Indiana State.

Becca Changstrom is their primary pitcher, hurling about sixty percent of their innings. She has an ERA of 1.66 and a WHIP of 1.14. Alexis Cantu has half of the remaining starts and has an ERA of 2.10 and a WHIP of 1.73. Changstrom was named Pitcher of the Week in the Big East this past week. The offense is led by Ellen Homan who has a BA of .375 and an OPS of .892. It certainly appears that pitching is the key to the team.

Mac and Alex Millspaugh (Butler CC/Northwest) are a pitcher and catcher on this year's Bluejay squad.

[flyingMoose]

Shockers 1-2 Creighton

Sloan has the start for the Shockers and Changstrom for the Jays, a bit of a surprise. She promptly struck out the side, and Sloan gave up a leadoff homer to Homan - all pretty much according to form.

In the second, Sloan gave up another solo homer sandwiched by three strike outs. She has four Ks, and Changstrom has five, the Shocks' other out being a sac bunt, through two innings.

In the fourth, the Shockers loaded the bases with one out using a walk, single and error. After a strike out, Ali was hit by a pitch to score Liz from third. Sloane continues to pitch well with seven strike outs through four innings. Creighton, 2-1 after four.

Kelli singled, stole second and was sacrificed to third in the fifth, but the next two batters could not get her home. A Jays' threat in the bottom of the inning (single, sac bunt) was turned away by Sloan with two ground outs.

The Shocks could not get anyone on base in the sixth or seventh innings, and the Bluejays get the win.

Though not the most potent offense the Shockers will face, this was an outstanding outing by Sloane. She gave up only four hits, two of them solo homers, and struck out seven. Changstrom's abilities and experience were too much for our young offense (only Melanie and Ali are not freshmen or sophomores). She gave up only three hits and an unearned run and struck out thirteen.

This had to be the quickest regulation collegiate game in the entire country this year - one hour and twenty minutes.

The Shockers play Indiana State in the weekend conference series.

[1972Shocker]

Nice effort by Sloan. While the big fly continues to dog her I thing we can live with a couple of solo shots a game if she gives up nothing else. Sometimes you just have to tip your hat to the other gal.