Shocker SB at Getterman Classic (Baylor)

[flyingMoose]

Cacy has a hit and Brittany has two!! hits in each of the three games. All of Cacy's hits have gone to left or left-center, an adjustment that bodes well for her continued offensive prowess.

I am interested to see Erin's progress after sitting out last year with her injury. She was the offensive stud in the past, but the Shocker offense has improved tremendously since then. Also (I need to do some research to back up this impression), I recall her being just so-so before MVC play, and then really turning it on during conference. That "track" this year may limit her at-bats.

[flyingMoose]

Baylor's Softball facilities are pretty impressive. Check out the photos on their website.

http://www.baylorbears.com/facilities/getterman.html

Perhaps we have some discussion about this in past years. I imagine we did the best we could with the money and space available, but I wish we could upgrade Wilkins Stadium significantly - elevated press box, dugouts, seating layout, umpire dressing area. There are probably some other items if one were to get really serious about it. But, hey, we may have the best facility in the Valley - I don't know.

[1972Shocker]

TAM-CC was very competitive in their 2 games with Baylor but the Bears prevailed 6-3 and 3-0 to move into tomorrow's championship game.

The Shocks and SFA play at 5:30 with the winner facing Baylor for the tournament championship tomorrow and the loser playing TAM-CC in the consolation game.

[flyingMoose]

As expected, Katie gets the start against SFA. Their starter pitched against Baylor, so perhaps she is their ace or maybe it is just her turn in the rotation. She is a freshman.

Kennedy Long gets her first start as a Shocker in left.

GT link

[flyingMoose]

SFA takes a 2-0 lead after three with the runs coming in the third. The Ladyjacks had a walk, a fielder's choice (did not get the force at second?), a passed ball, another fielder's choice (did not get the out at home on the squeeze?) and a double which scored another run. Melanie's double and Kelli's single are the only hits for the Shocks.

After a leadoff homer in the fourth for SFA and an error, Jenni is in to pitch.

[flyingMoose]

Jenni gets six-up, six-down to get to the bottom of the fifth where the Shocks tie the game. A Melanie double, Layne single and a bunt single by Kelli load the bases with one out. Melanie is forced at the plate by Cacy, but Layne scores on the play from second - don't ask me. Brittany then delivers two more runs with a double. After Paige walks and Mackenzie is hit by a pitch, the bases are loaded again, but Liz flies out.

3-3 after five.

[flyingMoose]

SFA 6-3 Shockers

In the sixth with the score tied at three, the Ladyjacks loaded the bases with no outs using a single, walk and single. Jenni got a comebacker to start a home to first double play, but the next batter singled to drive home two runs.

A single, throwing error and single scored an unearned run for SFA in the seventh, and Kelsey came on in relief to get the last two outs. The Shocks had only one baserunner in the last two innings.

Katie gave up four hits and three earned runs in her three innings, while Jenni gave up five hits and two earned runs in 3.1 innings.

Kelli had two singles, Melanie two doubles and Brittany had a double among the seven hits for the Shocks.

The Shockers play TAMU-CC at 930 in the morning to close out their games in the tournament. Ashlynne again?

[1972Shocker]

The Shocks jumped at to 5-0 lead in the first inning this morning vs TAM-CC. However, TAM-CC out up crooked numbers in the 4th, 5th and 6th innings to take a 8-6 lead heading into the bottom of the 6th.

The Shocks loaded the bases in the bottom of the 6th with 1 out. Brittany Fortner then delivered a 2-run double to tie the game at 8-all and then Macklin Hitz delivered the go ahead run with a Sac Fly to CF as the Shocks took a 9-8 lead into the 7th.

Jenni Brooks pitched a scoreless 7th for the Shocks to preserve the win.

The Shocks finished the opening weekend of play at 3-2.

[flyingMoose]

There was some ugly pitching today. Katie gave up six hits, three walks and three runs in 3.2 innings; Ashlynne gave up four hits, a walk and four runs in 1.1; Jenni gave up three hits and an unearned run in 2.0. You can live with Jenni's numbers (she did get the win), but this was certainly not a good day for Katie or Ashlynne.

Among the eleven hits for the Shocks were two doubles by Cacy, two singles from Mackenzie, Layne and Ashley and a double by Brittany. For the weekend, Brittany had eight hits including four doubles, and Cacy had six hits with five doubles.

The Shockers return to Texas next weekend to play in the Texas Classic in Austin.

[1972Shocker]

My concern coming into the season was with our pitching and it was just okay this weekend. Whether it is good enough to repeat as Valley Champions I don't know but we do not appear to have that go to stopper and have not had one since probably Ashley Bright in 2008 or perhaps Kasha Kolb in 2010.

In 2007 Ashley, a Junior transfer from Cowley County CC, had a 2.44 ERA and Margo Pruis, a Senior, had a 2.45 ERA.

In 2008 Ashley had a 1.76 ERA as a Senior and pitched 254 of the teams 411 innings that year. Brianna Smet was next lowest at 4.58 in 2008.

In 2009 Brianna and Kasha Kolb led the team with ERA's of 3.59 and 3.64, respectively.

In 2010 Kasha led the Shocks with a 2.27 ERA and Brianna ballooned to 4.71. Unfortunately for KK the team only hit 0.234 that year.

In 2011, 2012 and 2013 Katie Armagost was our #1 pitcher with ERA's of 3.75, 5.06 and 3.25.

Last year Sloan had the lowest ERA at 3.54 and Katie Malone was at 4.33 and Jenni Brooks at 5.28 in their Freshmen seasons.

The teams ERA's in 2011-2014 were 4.39, 5.37, 3.92 and 4.13

Obviously, lock down pitching is not that easy to come by or at least it hasn't been from HCKB. But HCKB has done a good job of compensating by beefing up the offense significantly.

[1972Shocker]

Brittany Fortner selected Valley Player of the Week for her performance at Waco this past weekend:

http://www.goshockers.com/ViewArticle.dbml?DB_OEM_ID=7500&ATCLID=209882897

Congrats Brittany. :encouragement: