Shocker SB at Southern Illinois

[flyingMoose]

The Shockers travel to Carbondale to take on the Salukis of Southern Illinois for their second conference series.

SIU has a record of 8-10-1 but swept Bradley in their only conference series. The Salukis are the preseason pick for fourth in the conference while Bradley are picked fifth.

Kelsey Gonzalez (OPS of .853) and Sydney Jones (.851) are two of the leading hitters for Southern Illinois. However, with seven of her eleven hits for extra bases, Savannah Fisher has the highest OPS on the team (.983) despite only having a BA of .275.

Katie Bertelsen is the workhorse of the Saluki pitching staff, having over 60% of their innings. She has an ERA of 4.34 and a WHIP of 1.66. Savanna Dover (6.28 and 2.55) and Shaye Harre (7.97 and 2.38) have basically all of the rest of their innings.

Shocker hitting is led by Brittany (1.160), Erin (.961), Mackenzie (.911), and Liz (.904) with several others having an OPS greater than .800. Katie now has 60% of our innings. Her ERA is now 3.75 and her WHIP is 1.47. Jenni is at 4.40/1.94 and Kelsey is at 7.69/1.99.

Cacy and Jenni are primary contributors to the Shockers who may not be available this weekend due to indefinite suspensions.

Games start at noon on both Saturday and Sunday.

[Shoxtastic]

Indefinite suspensions? What's the story there?

[flyingMoose]

Indefinite suspensions? What's the story there?

From the Oklahoma game thread

[flyingMoose]

The starting lineups are up. Cacy is in right (so a one game suspension) and Erin is back at first. McKenzie Adams is in left and Layne moves to center while Ashley sits. Katie has the start. Bertelsen has the start for the Salukis.

[Shoxtastic]

From the Oklahoma game thread

I meant do we know any more of the story there, sometimes I think things and type something completely different! :)

[flyingMoose]

I meant do we know any more of the story there, sometimes I think things and type something completely different! :)

No clue here.

[flyingMoose]

Katie gives up a leadoff walk in the first. With two outs, a double and single by the Salukis each score a run.

SIU leads 2-0 after one.

[flyingMoose]

Cacy gets a one-out walk for the Shocks, but there are no other base runners in the inning.

Still 2-0 after two complete.

Gone for the remainder of the day. Someone feel free to step in.

[1972Shocker]

A double, single and another double plated the 3rd run for SIU in the bottom of the 3rd and gave them runners on 2nd and 3rd with only 1 out. However, Katie got out of the inning without further damage with a strike out and a ground out to 2B.

In the top of the 4th Liz Broyles followed a 1-out Mackenzie Wright single with a 2-run homer. Cacy Williams walked was advanced to 2nd and scored the tying run on a 2-out single by Melanie Jaegers.

Jenni Brooks came into the game in relief of Katie in the 4th inning. After an uneventful 4th and 5th SIU got what proved to be a game winning home run leading off the bottom of the 6th.

Final: SIU 4 - WSU 3

[1972Shocker]

Game 2

Ashlynne Neil starting for the Shocks in game 2.

The Shocks got off to a good start scoring 3 in the top of the 1st on 3 hits and an SIU error.

McKenzie Adams scored in the top of the 2nd on a double steal with Brittany Fortner thrown at 2B to put the Shocks up 4-0.

In the bottom of the 2nd Ashlynne gave up a single, double, single and SIU scored 2 to make Shockers 4 - Salukis 2 after 2.

The Shocks loaded the bases in the 3rd and scored on a 2-out walk to Paige Mason. Kennedy Long pinch-hit for Layne Greenlee but struck-out to end the inning. Shockers 5 - Salukis 2.

A double, error and sac fly in the bottom of the 3rd scored a run for SIU with 2 outs. Ashlynne then walked the next two batters and was replaced in the cirle by Katie. Katie immediately gave up a game tying 2-run double before getting a stirked out to end the inning. After 3 the game was tied at 5-all.

In the 4th Brittany walked and advanced to 2nd on an error. Kelli advanced Brittany to 3rd on a ground out to 2B. Cacy William flied to RF and Brittany was thrown out at the plate trying to score on the tag up for an inning ending double play.

In the 5th Liz Broyles lead off with a walk. Hunter Hogan was inserted as a pinch runner for Liz. MacKenzie Wright flied out to RF. Macklin Hitz then lined out to SS who doubled Hunter off of 1st for another inning ending double play.

In the bottom of the 6th a walk, sac bunt, sac fly and single produced the go ahead run for SIU. SIU 6 - Shokers 5 after 6.

In the 7th the Shockers loaded the bases with 1-out on a walk to Brittany Fortner, a single by Cacy Williams and a Liz Broyles hit by a pitch. MacKenzie Wright was also plunked by a pitch to force in the tying run and keep the bases loaded with 1 out. Macklin Hitz grounded to 3B who went home for the force out at the plate and the 2nd out of the inning. Melanie Jaegers then grounded into a force out to end the inning with the game tied at 6-all heading into the bottom of the 7th.

In the bottom of the 7th a lead off double, a sac bunt and a single scored the winning run for the Salukis.

Final: SIU 7 - WSU 6

[1972Shocker]

The Shocks are now 1-4 in conference play and their chances of repeating as Valley champs have been seriously damaged even though it is only the 2nd series of the year.

[ShockTalk]

The Shocks are now 1-4 in conference play and their chances of repeating as Valley champs have been seriously damaged even though it is only the 2nd series of the year.

I know nothing about the strength of schedules of the Shockers vs SIU and IN St, but losing 4 of 5 to them would seem very odd.

[1972Shocker]

I know nothing about the strength of schedules of the Shockers vs SIU and IN St, but losing 4 of 5 to them would seem very odd.

SIU was picked to finish 4th in the Valley behind the Shocks, Illinois State and UNI. Indiana State was picked to finish 9th.

[flyingMoose]

Game 3

Katie and Bertelsen are back in the circle for this game. Cacy is back in the leadoff spot and at first base for the Shocks. From the play-by-play of yesterday, it is possible that Erin is hurt. Layne in left, Ashley back in center and McKenzie in right are the outfielders.

Cacy singled to open the first for the Shockers and reached third with one out on errors. But a popup and a ground out ended the inning. The Salukis opened their first with a single and, after a fielder's choice, homered to open a 2-0 lead. After a single and error by Ashley and a ground out, another single scored the third run of the inning. A hit batter and another single followed, but Layne threw out the runner trying to score from second.

SIU leads 3-0 after one.

[flyingMoose]

In the Shocker second with one out, McKenzie singled and Melanie walked. Layne advanced them with a sac bunt, but Ashley ended the inning with a ground out. Ashlynne came on to pitch for the Shocks in the second. She gave up a leadoff single but no runs.

In the Saluki third, a single, fielder's choice and two hit batters load the bases with one out. The Shocks get out of the inning with an unassisted double play by Mackenzie at third on a line out.

SIU continue to lead 3-0 after three complete.