Shocker SB at Drake

[flyingMoose]

The Shockers continue their Valley schedule with a series at Drake on Friday and Saturday, the games being moved up a day from a typical weekend due to Easter Sunday. The doubleheader on Friday starts at 2pm with the single game on Saturday starting at noon. The Drake Web article for the series is here. The LiveStats link is not available until nearer game time.

The Bulldogs are 6-8 in the Valley with an overall record of 14-25. They have played an aggressive non-conference schedule with tournaments at Baylor, Arizona State, Arkansas and Oklahoma State and a record of 1-6 against ranked teams. They also have lost to Creighton and won over Iowa State. In conference play, Drake lost three to Southern Illinois, took one of three from Loyola and won two of three from Missouri State and Evansville. They split their "partner" doubleheader with Northern Iowa earlier this week.

The offense is led by Megan Sowa (BA of .340 and OPS of .842), Amy Pierce (.294 and .862 and five homers) and Rebekah Schmidt (.283 and .864). Despite having only one-third of their starts, Schmidt has pitched two-thirds of the Bulldog innings and has appeared in every game but one. Her ERA is 3.65 with a WHIP of 1.33. Jordan Gronewold and Mariah Mackinnon both have ERAs near 7.50. No conference-only stats are available for Drake.

Brittany remains on a tear for the Shockers. Her conference stats are a BA of .563! and an OPS of 1.535!! with three homers. Cacy's numbers are .431 and 1.312 with four homers, while Liz has a BA of .413 and an OPS of 1.113. Again in conference play, Sloan has an ERA of 2.53 and a WHIP of 1.14 with Katie's numbers being 2.59 and 1.42.

[flyingMoose]

Game One LiveStats link

[1972Shocker]

Katie Malone cruised through the 1st 3 innings and the Shocks scored single runs in the 2nd, 3rd and 4th innings to take a 3-0 lead.

After getting the 1st out in the bottom of the 4th Katie gave up a solo home run to make it 3-1 and then allowed 3 consecutive singles to load the bases with still only 1-out.

Jenni Brooks (7.16 ERA) has come in relief of Katie. Tough position for Jenni to be in especially in light of the fact that she has not seen action in recent games.

Jenni actually did pretty well. She did give up a RBI single to the 1st batter she faced to make the score 3-2 but then got out of the inning without further damage with back-to-back strikeouts.

Shocks need to get the bats heated up a little and get those runs back.

[flyingMoose]

Deleted by OP

[ShockTalk]

Shocks win game 1 4-2.

[WuDrWu]

UNI torched a dying MOSTATEBEARS team 10-0 and 9-1 today. ISUB leads in the 6th trying to split with Bradley. Loyola is hanging to 1-0 lead on SIU in the 7th.

ISUR and Evansville play a single game starting in 30 minutes and then a DH tomorrow.


Yuck...SIU ties the game on an error by the 3B (2 base error), a sac bunt and then an intentional walk make it 1st and 3rd one out. A error on the catcher on a double steal makes it 1-1 with the winning run on 3rd and only 1 out. Better walk em loaded LU. Base hit, SIU 2nd of the entire game, and only one of the inning, plates the winner. ISU beats BU 2-1.

[1972Shocker]

Shocks win game 1 4-2.

Shocks weren't as dominate as they have been but they need to win games like this as well. For my money Jenni Brooks gets player of the game. After giving up the RBI single to the 1st batter she faced she retired the next 8 batters in a row and 11 of the next 12 to preserve the lead and the win for the Shocks.

Nice job Jenni.

[flyingMoose]

Try this for a Game Two LiveStats link

[flyingMoose]

Shocks weren't as dominate as they have been but they need to win games like this as well. For my money Jenni Brooks gets player of the game. After giving up the RBI single to the 1st batter she faced she retired the next 8 batters in a row and 11 of the next 12 to preserve the lead and the win for the Shocks.

Nice job Jenni.

Although the box score says differently, Jenni gets the W in this game to make her 3-0 in the Valley. Katie as a starter must pitch four innings to get credit for the win.

[1972Shocker]

Although the box score says differently, Jenni gets the W in this game to make her 3-0 in the Valley. Katie as a starter must pitch four innings to get credit for the win.

I was thinking that was the case but I wasn't sure. Thanks for the clarification.

[1972Shocker]

Brittany Fortner stakes Sloan and the Shocks to a 2-0 lead in the top of the 3rd with a 2-run jack to RF. If you happen to be around Brittany you may want to keep your distance lest you get burned.

[flyingMoose]

In the top of the fourth with two outs and a runner at second, HCKB pinch-hit for Ashley. This is an instance of the slapper drawback that I mentioned in another(?) thread. With two outs, the Shocks likely needed Ashley's slap hit and another hit to score the runner from second. So Coach gave Brianne a shot at scoring the run with one hit.

[1972Shocker]

Sloan gave up a solo home run in the bottom of the 5th to cut the Shocks lead in half at 2-1.

Shocks had a pair of base runners in the top of the 6th but could not come up with the big hit.

Drake leads off the bottom of the 6th with an infield single and sacrifices that runner to 2B. Sloan gets out of the inning unscathed with a fly ball to CF and a strike out.

Tight game heading into the 7th.

Shocks with the bottom of the lineup due up in the 7th. Would be nice to get an insurance run.

Didn't get it. Both Avery and Kellie tried to bunt their way on unsuccessfully and Cacy grounded out to the pitcher.

Ok, Sloan it's up to you senior.

[1972Shocker]

Sloan gets the first 2 batters on a ground out to 3B and a fly ball to CF but then gives up back-to-back singles putting runners at 1st and 2nd.

Sloan gets the big strike out and the Shocks win a nail-biter 2-1 over Drake and extend their current win streak to 6 games.

Drake was picked by the coaches to finish 3rd in the league so today's games represent 2 valuable road wins as the Shocks start the tough final stretch of the season in very nice fashion.

The offense was in the limelight over the last 4 games although the pitching was very good as well allowing only 4 runs in those 4 games. Today the pitching moves into the spotlight. Not over-powering but good enough and making the big pitches when they needed to.

Shocks go for the sweep tomorrow with another series win in hand. Would be nice to see the bats come alive tomorrow.

[1972Shocker]

ISUR and Evansville play a single game starting in 30 minutes and then a DH tomorrow.

Illinois State is blasting last-place Evansville 13-2 in the 4th and still batting. I see a sweep in Illinois State's future. Shocks need to win tomorrow and hold serve.