Shocker SB at Shocker Invitational

[flyingMoose]

The Shockers host their very own tournament this weekend, weather permitting. It looks as though the weather will permit, but the conditions may be rough.

South Dakota comes to Wichita on their way to Florida and a series of games over spring break. The Coyotes were a preseason pick for third in The Summit League (a conference that capitalizes The - whatever). They return their top five hitters with Yvon Minoque and Matley Jones leading the pack (get it? coyotes .. pack :) ) this year. Rachel Cue, Freshman of the Year last year in The Summit, gets two-thirds of their innings with Madison Frain pitching virtually all of the rest. Their record so far is 4-5-1 with wins over UAB and Siena and a win and tie against TAMU-CC of teams the Shockers have spent the weekend with.

Nebraska is one of three teams from the Big 10 that were ranked in the preseason polls, although they have since dropped from those polls. The Huskers have a record of 6-9, but they play a reasonably rugged schedule. The have a run-rule win over Colorado State, two losses to 6 Florida State, losses to 14 LSU and 12 UCLA and a win over 10 Tennessee. They split two games with South Dakota in fall ball last year, but it would be difficult to read much into that. Kiki Stokes (OPS of 1.573) and Alicia Armstrong are the leading hitters for Nebraska, while Emily Lockman and Cassie McClure lead the Huskers in the circle.

Brittany and Liz are the leading sticks for the Shockers at this point with Katie now getting over half of the innings.

[flyingMoose]

Tournament Central

[flyingMoose]

The only game of the tournament today is the Shockers hosting South Dakota. Katie has the start for the Shocks, while Madison Frain, the #2 by innings, has the start for the Coyotes. Erin is at first, Cacy in right and Layne in left for the Shockers with Brittany being the DP. Also Brittany has moved to the top of the order, and Cacy has moved down to third.

[flyingMoose]

The Coyotes scored with back-to-back, one-out doubles in the first.

Shocks trail 1-0 after one.

[flyingMoose]

The Shockers struck back in the second: homer by Mackenzie, walk to Erin, run-scoring double by Melanie, runs-scoring single by Layne who advanced to second on the play at the plate, sac bunt by Ashley, walk to Brittany. All of this brought on a new pitcher for South Dakota, one who has pitched a total of one inning so far this year. 3-1 Shocks in the bottom of the second.

Have to go now and will not be back until much later. Someone feel free to take over.

[1972Shocker]

The Shockers scored two more in the 2nd inning on a wild pitch and an RBI single to CF by Liz Broyles before Mackenzie Wright, who had homered leading off the inning, struck out swinging to end the inning. Shocks 5 - Coyotes 1

Katie gave up a 2-run homer in the 3rd to make it a 5-3 Shocker lead.

The Shocks exploded for 7 more runs in the bottom of the 4th on only 3 hits. 12 Shocker players batted in the inning. The Shocks were the beneficiary of 6 walks and a hit batter. The big hits were a 3 run double by Erin Carney and a 2-out 2 run single by Brianne Bond. One run was walked in and one scored on a wild pitch. So maybe exploded is not the proper term.

In any, case the Shocks had a 12-3 lead and a run rule win after Katie pitched a scoreless 5th.

[1972Shocker]

Game 2 vs South Dakota Coyotes - Shocks are the visiting team in this game:

Shocks lead 1-0 after 3 innings with Kelsey Sterneker in the circle. The Shocks scored in the Top of the 2nd on a double steal. Melissa Jaegers stealing 2nd and Mackenzie Wright stealing home.

For the 2nd game in a row the 4th inning is very, very good for the Shocks. Today even better than yesterday. 13 runs on 9 hits, 4 walks and 1 error highlighted by 2 grand slam homers by Brittany Fortner and Paige Mason.

Kelsey ran into trouble in the bottom of the 4th and gave up 2 runs and was relieved by Ashlynne Neil with 1 out. Ashlynne gave up 2 inherited runners before getting out of the inning with the Shockers leading 14-4.

Katie Malone was brought in to pitch the 5th inning. Katie gave up a 2-out solo homer but that was it as the Shocks closed out their 2nd straight run-rule win 14-5.

[1972Shocker]

Katie Malone in the circle for the Shocks against Nebraska.

Shocks play small ball to produce single runs in the 1st and 2nd innings.

The Shocks than switched to bash ball in the 3rd as Liz Broyles and McKenzie Wright led off the bottom of the 3rd with back-to-back jacks to put the Shocks up 4-0.

Erin Carney then followed with a double and then moved to 3rd on a single by Melanie Jaegers giving the Shocks runners at the corners still with no outs.

The Shocks tried the double steal that got them a run against South Dakota in the earlier game but Erin was cut down at the plate with Melanie moving up to 2nd base. Maybe should have waited until 2 outs for that. Paige Mason (batting for Layne Greenlee) reached an a 2-base error by the Nebraska LF and Melanie scored from 2nd.

Layne re-entered in place of Paige and advanced to 3rd on a wild pitch. Ashley Johnson grounded out to SS for the 2nd out with Layne holding at 3rd. Nebraska walked Brittany Fortner and Kelli Spring to load the bases for Cacy Williams with 2 outs but Cacy grounded out to 2B it end the inning.

Shocks lead 5-0 after 3 complete.

[1972Shocker]

Katie gave up a solo homer in the Top of the 4th.

However, Liz Broyles leads of her 2nd consecutive inning with a home run in the bottom of the inning.

At the end of 4 complete: Shockers 6 - Cornhuskers 1

[1972Shocker]

Erin Carney gets into the long ball act with a 1-out solo homer in the bottom of the 6th.

Katie then finishes off a complete game 3-hit performance.

Nebraska 1R, 2H, 1E, 2 LOB
Wichita St 7R, 13H, 0E, 11 LOB

So it could have been a lot worse the Shocks strand 11 runners in 6 innings and that includes hitting into two groundball double plays.

[1972Shocker]

Nebraska is the home team in Sunday's game. Jenni Brooks is in the circle for the Shocks.

The Huskers draw 1st blood with a run in the bottom of the 2nd on a double and a run-scoring single.

The Shocks continue to show a penchant for the big inning as they put up a 5 spot in the 3rd on 5 hits with the crowning blow a bases loaded double by Melanie Jaegers that plated the final 3 runs of the inning.

The Shocks took advantage of 3 Nebraska errors to add an unearned run in the 4th.

In the top of the 5th the Shocks put 2 on with 1 out on a single by Erin Carney and walk to Layne Greenlee. Michelle Dixon struck out but Brittany Fortner picked her up by blasting 3-run homer.

That put the Shocks up 9-1 heading into the bottom of the 5th with a chance to win their 3rd run-rule game of the weekend. Katie Malone was brought in to pitch the 5th after a workman-like 4 innings from Jenni who gave up 6 hits and a walk and stranded 6 Nebraska runners.

Katie got the first two outs then gave up a single and a walk and then gave up a 3-run homer before getting the final out of the inning but the game continues.

After 5 complete: Shockers 9 - Huskers 4

Shocks put their 1st two batters on the 6th but fail to score. Katie sets the Huskers down in order in the bottom of the 6th.

The Shocks pick up a run in the Top of the 7th on an Ashley Johnson infield hit, a Brittany Fortner double and a Kelli Spring single to center as they head to the bottom of the 7th leading 10-4.

Katie pitches a 1-2-3 bottom of the 7th to finish off the Huskers and complete a very solid 4-0 weekend for the Lady Shocks.

Shockers: 10R, 15H, 0E, 9 LOB
Huskers: 4R, 8H, 3E, 6 LOB

[1972Shocker]

Shocker Invitational Results:

Wichita State 4-0 (12-3 vs SD, 14-5 vs SD, 7-1 vs NU, 10-4 vs NU)
Nebraska 2-2 (8-3 vs SD, 12-2 vs SD, 1-7 vs WSU, 4-10 vs WSU)
South Dakota 0-4 (3-12 vs WSU, 5-14 vs WSU, 3-8 vs NU, 2-12 vs NU)

The Shocks (14-9) travel to Stillwater on Wednesday to take on the Oklahoma State Cowgirls (9-12) before returning home next weekend to open conference play hosting Indiana State (4-12).

[flyingMoose]

We hit very well this weekend. We are back in our home yard, of course, but is it because we are used to the sight lines? Because hitting is contagious? Because Wichita is a big letdown for the Huskers after some of the other tournaments they have been to?

[1972Shocker]

We hit very well this weekend. We are back in our home yard, of course, but is it because we are used to the sight lines? Because hitting is contagious? Because Wichita is a big letdown for the Huskers after some of the other tournaments they have been to?

a) Yes
b) Maybe
c) No
d) I don't know