Softball @ OSU

[VOTS]

Happy to announce this game will now be streamed at www.goshockers.com. First pitch at 6!

[flyingMoose]

As noted, the Shockers play the Cowgirls a single game this Wednesday in Stillwater before opening the conference season this weekend, hosting Indiana State.

Oklahoma State is the preseason pick for fourth in the seven-team Big 12. Their 9-12 record includes a split in two games with Evansville and in their "major" West Coast tournament, they have a win over Long Beach State and losses to Stanford and Cal State Fullerton. Tiffany Mikkelson and Vanessa Shippy lead the hitters for the Cowgirls with three different pitchers claiming over ninety percent of the innings thrown in total. Jessi Hafner, a freshman who played at Carroll, is the fourth pitcher and has played some first base for them.

With five straight wins, the Shocker's record is now 14-9. Katie continues to have the majority of the innings. Brittany leads the hitters with an OPS of 1.237! Erin is beginning to round into form as conference approaches, her typical trajectory during a season. Her OPS is 1.198 with Liz at 1.003.

EDIT: I should have mentioned that Shelby Davis, a senior from Goddard, has the highest batting average for the Cowgirls at .424. I identify leading hitters by their OPS (on-base percentage plus slugging average), and she is fifth in OPS with a double as the only extra-base hit among her twenty-five, contributing to that position on the list.

[flyingMoose]

Katie has the start for the Shocks, and Brandi Needham, the #1 pitcher by innings, has the start for the Cowgirls. Brittany is the DP, Layne is in left and Erin is at first with the rest of the lineup much as it has been all season.

[flyingMoose]

Both teams has runners reach third in the first inning, but no one scored. Both teams were three-up, three-down in the second.

No score after two complete innings.

Have to go and not returning until the game is probably over. Feel free to step in (as if you needed my permission :) ).

[1972Shocker]

The Shocks had a great opportunity in the top of the 3rd when Ashley Johnson reached on a high chop to 3rd and Brittany Fortner singled to LF. Kelli Spring bunted the runners to 2nd and 3rd. However, McKenzie Wright's bouncer to 3rd resulted in Ashly getting caught in run down. Brittany advanced to 3rd and McKenzie was able to advance to 2nd on the FC. Liz Broyles flied out to CF to end the threat with the Shocks unable to score.

In the bottom of the inning Shelby Davis, the Goddard product, picked up her 2nd infield hit of the game with 1 out and promptly stole second base. The next hitter hit a slicing fly ball down the line in LF that Layne Greenlee picked off at ankle level for out number 2. The next Cowgirl batter also lined to LF but pretty much right at Layne to end the inning.

Still scoreless after 3 complete.

[1972Shocker]

In the 4th the Cacy Williams grounded out to 2B and Erin Carney grounded out to SS both swinging at 1st pitches. Melaine Jaegers took ball 1 and then drove the 2nd pitch over the LF wall for the 1st run of the game. Layne Greenlee then grounded out to SS on the 1st pitch. So the Shocks managed to scored despite only seeing 5 pitches.

Katie promptly fell behind OSU's cleanup hitter 3-0 to lead off the 4th and then gave up a towering home run to tie the game. 2 strike outs and a hard liner right at McKenzie at 3B ended the inning.

After 4 complete tied at 1-1.

[1972Shocker]

In the 5th Ashley Johnson drew a walk leading off for the Shocks. Brittany Fortner popped to SS and Kelli Spring grounded out to SS with Ashley going to second.

McKenzie Wright reached on an error by the SS with Ashley advancing to 3rd.

Two out singles to LF by Liz Broyles and Cacy Williams plated Ashley and McKenzie. On Cacy's single Liz advanced to third and Cacy advanced to second on the throw home.

Erin Carney worked a walk on a 3-2 count to load the bases with Melanie Jaeger coming to bat. Melanie also worked the count full then one upped the fence with a drive down the LF line from a 2 run double and knocking the OSU starter out of the game with 2-outs and runners on 2nd and 3rd for the Shocks.

Paige Mason, pintch hitting for Layne Greenlee, due up for the Shocks to face Bishop Carroll grad Jessie Haffner. Haffner promptly walked Paige on 4 pitches to load the bases for Shocker speedster Ashley Johnson.

Haffner then walked Ashley on 5 pitches to force in the Shockers 5th run of the inning and gets the reward of facing Brittany Fortner with the bases still loaded.

Brittany gets her 3rd single of the game to LF to drive in Melanie from 3rd and Layne from 2nd with Ashley going to 3rd and Brittany to 2nd on the throw home.

Kelli Spring who made the 2nd out of the inning gets a chance to deliver with 2 outs and she delivers a single to LF to drive in Ashley with Brittany going to 3rd.

McKenzie Wright coming up for the 2nd time of the inning after reaching on a 2-out error earlier in the inning which seemed to open the flood gates for the Shockers. McKenzie goes the opposite way to RF from a single to drive in Brittany with the 9th run of the inning.

Liz Broyles drove the ball out of the park but foul by about 8 feet down the LF line. Liz then flied out to right. But the Shocks lead 10-1 and have a chance to run-rule the Cowgirls.

9 Shocker runs on 6 two-out hits, 4 walks and 2 OSU errors.

Obviously Katie has had a long wait between innings so hopefully she can get loose.

[1972Shocker]

Katie wasn't sharp coming back out as she went 3-0 on the OSU lead off hitter and walked her on 5 pitches. That was the 8 hole hitter who was hitting only about 0.170 so that was just a gift from Katie. About the last thing Katie wanted to do but perhaps understandable under the circumstances.

After going 2-2 on the next batter Katie got a comeback bouncer and forced the runner going to 2nd. Then a passed ball in Melanie allowed the runner on 1st to advance to 2nd, although that run is pretty meaningless.

Shelby Davis then bunted her way on with her 3rd infield hit of the game putting Cowgirls on 2nd and 3rd with 1 out.

Davis then tried to steal 2nd on a 2-2 count but Melanie gunned her down at 2nd for out number 2 with the runner on 3rd holding.

A single to LF by the OSU 2-hole hitter and an ground single to LF by the 3-hole hitter scored a run and brings their clean up hitter who homered in the 4th inning. Unfortunately, Kelli could not corral a grounder up the middle and the error allowed OSU to score a 2nd run and extend the game.

Melanie then throws out her 2nd base stealer of the inning at 2B to end the inning.

Let's hope the Shockers charity does not come back to haunt them.

After 5 complete: Shockers 10 - Cowgirls 3

[1972Shocker]

In the 6th the Shocks Erin Carney did drive a ball out the park but foul down the LF line before grounding out to 1st for the 2nd out of the inning.. Melanie Jaegers did draw a 2-out walk before being forced a 2nd on a grounder to 2B by Layne Greenlee.

Jenni Brooks enters the game to take over for Katie Malone in the circle.

Steve Strain trying to jinx the Shockers saying they are well on their way to a win. :boxing:

OSU gets a bloop single and a walk to open the bottom of the 6th. Jenni then fell behind to the 7-hole hitter 3-1 before coming back and getting a strike out.

Jenni then walked her 2nd batter of the inning to load the bases. Jenni is consistently pitching from behind. This all coming against the bottom of the OSU order.

A fielder's choice grounder to McKenzie at 3rd get's the 2nd out in exchange for the Cowgirls 4th run of the game.

Now Jenni gets to face Shelby Davis who is 3-3. Big batter here or things could get interesting.

Jenni goes to a full count again before Shelby got her 4th infield hit of the game driving in another run.

Jenni is pulled from he game and Kelsey Sterneker comes on in relief with the score at 10-5 and runners at the corners with 2 outs. OSU only needs two more runners to bring the trying run to the plate.

Kelsey promptly falls behind her 1st hitter 3-1. Sterneker than induced one hopper back to her but she pulled Erin Carney off the bag.

Kelsey then walked the next batter on 4 pitches to load the bases for the OSU clean up hitter who homered earlier in the game and now represents the tying run.

Katie Malone being brought back into the game in a terrible situation for a re-entry.

Katie did induce a fly ball to RF to end the inning.

After 6 complete: Shockers 10 - Cowgirls 6

And yes I am still quite concerned about our pitching behind Katie Malone.

[1972Shocker]

With 1-out in the top of the 7th the red hot Brittany Fortner doubled off the wall in left center and scored on a 2-base throwing error by the OSU leftfielder.

With 2-outs McKenzie Wright singled off the glove of the 2B and Liz Broyles drew a walk after several 2 strike fouls to give Cacy Williams an opportunity with 2 outs but Cacy could not deliver as she grounded out to 2B.

Shocks lead 11-6 heading into the bottom of the 7th.

Hopefully, Steve Strain can keep his foot out of his mouth and Katie can finish this off.

[1972Shocker]

The OSU 5-hole hitter beat out a high chop back to Katie for an infield single to lead off the 7th.

Katie has fallen behind 2-0 to the 1st to OSU batters. Not the best approach, but Katie does induce a pop up to Kelli at SS. 1 down.

Katie then goes to a 3-2 count on the 7-hole hitter after jumping ahead 1-2 in the count. Katie then gives up a double to right center to put Cowgirls at 2nd and 3rd with 1 out.

Katie then falls behind the 8-hole hitter 2-0 and ended up giving up a 2-run double on a 3-2 count. The lead is now down to 11-8.

Katie did get the 9-hole hitter on a fly to Ashley in CF for the 2nd inning. However, Katie has worked her way back to the top of the order for Shelby Davis who is 4-4. One more base runner will bring the tying run to the plate for the 2nd inning in a row for the Cowgirls.

Katie falls behind Shelby 3-1 but came back and got a line drive to Layne Greenlee in LF to end the game.

Final: Shockers 11 - Cowgirls 8

Not quite sure what to make of this but the Shocks don't win much when facing the Cowgirls as they are now 8-76 all-time against OSU. So I guess any win is a good win over Oklahoma State.

But Geez Louise they made this game much more dramatic then it needed to be.

[1972Shocker]

@flyingMoose: you are no longer allowed to leave during a game. It simply cannot and will not be tolerated.