Shocker SB v Illinois State

[flyingMoose]

The Shockers continue their conference schedule with a series this weekend against Illinois State. Games at Wilkins Stadium start at noon on Saturday with a single game on Sunday at noon.

The Redbirds have an overall record of 18-21 (they play an aggressive non-conference schedule) with a 9-3 record in the conference which puts them in second place, a game behind Drake.

The offense of Illinois State is led by Regan Romshek (OPS of 1.205 and twelve HR), Jordan de los Reyes (1.089 and eleven HR) and Anne Heineman (1.021). Romshek and Heineman have been Player of the Week in the Valley this year.

Romshek is the workhorse in the circle for the Redbirds, pitching over half of their innings. She has an ERA of 4.84 with a WHIP of 1.71. Sarah Finck (3.39 and 1.59) is next on the innings-pitched list.

The Shocker's pitching staff has been performing better of late. Katie has an ERA of 3.69 with a WHIP of 1.50. Jenni's numbers are 3.92 and 1.81. Kelsey has shown the ability to get through a lineup one time in a couple of recent outings.

Brittany continues to lead the Shock's offense with an OPS of 1.177 and six HR. Others are Liz (.954), Mackenzie (.928), and Cacy (.924 and seven HR).

[1972Shocker]

Game 1:

The Shocks pounced on the Lady Redbirds early and often.

Cacy Williams lead off the Shockers 1st with a home run followed 1 out later by a home run off the bat of Brittany Fortner to put the Shocks up 2-0.

In the 3rd, with some charity from the Redbirds, the Shocks tacked on 7 more runs on 6 hits, 2 Redbird errors and a bases-loaded walk to go up 9-0.

Katie Malone in the circle for the Shocks and breezed through the first 3 innings facing only 1 batter over the minimum who reached on a lead off single in the 2nd.

Katie has run into some trouble in the 4th loading the bases with 1 out before giving up a RBI sacrifice fly then hit the next batter (her second HBP of the inning) to reload the bases with 2 outs. The next batter, the 8-hole hitter then drove in 2 more runs but the runner at 1st was thrown out at 3rd by Melanie after taking the throw to home from LF. Heading into the bottom of the 4th it is 9-3.

Katie gave up a solo homer in the top of the 5th to make it 9-4 but the Shocks, again with some help from the Redbirds in the from of a hit batter and 2 errors, tacked on 2 more runs on only 1 hit in the bottom of the 5th to put the score at 11-4 after 5.

The Shocks then pushed across the game ending run-rule score in the bottom of the 6th on 2 hits and another Redbird error to
finish off the Redbirds 12-4. Katie Malone went the distance in the circle for the Shocks.

Redbirds: 4R, 6H, 5E, 3LOB
Shockers: 12R, 11H, 0E, 6LOB

Katie did not walk anyone but did hit two batters both in the Redbirds 3-run 4th and the Lady Shocks backed her with error-free ball. Illinois State pitchers walked 4 and hit 1 batter in addition to making 5 errors.

[flyingMoose]

Game 1:

The Shocks pounced on the Lady Redbirds early and often.

Cacy Williams lead off the Shockers 1st with a home run followed 1 out later by a home run off the bat of Brittany Fortner to put the Shocks up 2-0.

In the 3rd, with some charity from the Redbirds, the Shocks tacked on 7 more runs on 6 hits, 2 Redbird errors and a bases-loaded walk to go up 9-0.

Katie Malone in the circle for the Shocks and breezed through the first 3 innings facing only 1 batter over the minimum who reached on a lead off single in the 2nd.

Katie has run into some trouble in the 4th loading the bases with 1 out before giving up a RBI sacrifice fly then hit the next batter (her second HBP of the inning) to reload the bases with 2 outs. The next batter, the 8-hole hitter then drove in 2 more runs but the runner at 1st was thrown out at 3rd by Melanie after taking the throw to home from LF. Heading into the bottom of the 4th it is 9-3.

Katie gave up a solo homer in the top of the 5th to make it 9-4 but the Shocks, again with some help from the Redbirds in the from of a hit batter and 2 errors, tacked on 2 more runs on only 1 hit in the bottom of the 5th to put the score at 11-4 after 5.

The Shocks then pushed across the game ending run-rule score in the bottom of the 6th on 2 hits and another Redbird error to
finish off the Redbirds 12-4. Katie Malone went the distance in the circle for the Shocks.

Redbirds: 4R, 6H, 5E, 3LOB
Shockers: 12R, 11H, 0E, 6LOB

Katie did not walk anyone but did hit two batters both in the Redbirds 3-run 4th and the Lady Shocks backed her with error-free ball. Illinois State pitchers walked 4 and hit 1 batter in addition to making 5 errors.

I was able to watch this one. There were some position changes - Cacy at first, Layne in center, Ashley in right with Paige as the DP.

In the top of the second, Brittany almost made a great diving catch, the ball coming loose as she hit the ground. This was the only hit Katie gave up in the first three innings. For the first three innings, Katie's speed was good, her movement was good, her location was great.

Kelli had a nice piece of softball in the bottom of the third. She was on third and tried to score on a ground ball by Brittany. The throw beat her to the plate, but she stayed in a rundown long enough for Brittany to come all the way around to third.

The Redbird relief pitcher in the third was a much softer pitcher, and we had some trouble adjusting. Romshek, the ISU starter, just did not hit her spots often enough.

Both of the HBP in the Redbird fourth were on changes. The base hits were not hit hard - a couple of fisted hits and a soft liner down the left field line. The home run was hit hard. :)

One of the errors charged to the Redbirds should have been ruled a hit.

In the bottom of the sixth, Erin hit a dribbler toward the second baseman that the first baseman cut in front on, but could not make a play, allowing the game-ending run to score.

[1972Shocker]

Game 2:

Jenni Brooks started in the circle for the Shocks but ran into trouble right off the bat. After getting the first hitter of the game Jennie was reached for double and two singles that produced the 1st run of the game for the Redbirds and gave them runners on 1st and 2nd with only 1 out. However, Jenni got a pop foul to 3B and a strike out to escape without further damage.

In the 2nd inning Jenni got the 1st two hitters before the Redbirds 9-hole hitter reached on an error by Kelli Spring at SS. A walk and a home run followed to put Illinois State up 4-0 after 2 innings.

Kelsey Sterneker took over for Jenni in the circle and pitched a scoreless 3rd, 4th and 5th innings and the Shocker hitters went to work to bet back in the game.

After the first 2 Shocker hitters made outs to open the bottom of the 3rd, Kelli Spring reached on a bunt single followed by a double by Brittany Fortner putting runners at 2nd and 3rd and Liz Broyles delivered both of them to the plate with a single. Two more singles loaded the bases but Melaine Jaegers flied to CF to end the inning with the Shocks trailing 4-2.

In the bottom of the 4th the Shocks strung together 4 consecutive 1-out singles by Ashley Johnson, Cacy Williams, Kelli Spring and Brittany Fortner to produce 3 runs and that put the Shocks up 5-4 after 4 innings.

In the top of the 6th Kelsey gave up a solo homer to the Redbirds' Regan Romshek leading off the inning to tie the game at 5-all. After Kelsey allowed a single to the next batter HCKB brought in Katie Malone to pitch. Kelsey continues to be effective as a 1-time through the lineup pitcher. After a sacrifice bunt, a wild pitch, a walk and a stolen base the Redbirds had runners on 2nd and 3rd with only 1 out. However, Katie bowed her neck and struck out the next two hitters to get out of the jam and preserve the 5-5 tie game.

The tie did not last long. Liz Broyles lead off with a walk and 1-out later Macklin Hitz delivered a big 2-run home run to put the Shocks back up 7-5. Katie pitched a scoreless 7th and the Shocks owned a very nice sweep of the Redbirds. Katie picked up her 2nd win of the day in relief after going the distance in Game 1.

Redbirds: 5R, 8H, 3E, 6LOB
Shockers: 7R, 13H 1E, 10LOB

[1972Shocker]

Game 3:

Katie Malone in the circle for the Shocks.

Illinois State took the lead in the top of the 2nd on a lead-off home run to go up 1-0.

The Shocks were pretty quiet until the 4th inning when the struck for 2 runs. Brittany Fortner lead off with a single and was bunted to 2nd by Liz Broyles. Mackenzie Wright's infield single put runners on the corners. After Mackenzie stole 2B Macklin Hitz delivered both runners to the plate with a single to right center as the Shocks edged ahead 2-1 after 4.

With 2 outs and nobody on the Shocks got consecutive singles from Kennedy Long (pinch hitting for Melanie Jaegers), Mckenzie Adams and Ashley Johnson to plate an insurance run and then Cacy Williams delivered 2 more runs with a double LF to make it 5-1 heading to the 7th.

After walking the lead off batter in the 7th Katie set the next 3 hitters down in order and the Shocks owned a big sweep over the Redbirds. Katie picked up her 2nd complete game win of the weekend to go along with her win in relief in Saturday's Game 2.

Katie didn't exactly dominate the Redbirds but she never let them string anything together.

Redbirds: 1R, 8H, 0E, 8LOB
Shockers: 5R, 9H, 0E, 6LOB (The Shocks committed only 1 error in the 3-games with the Redbirds)

[flyingMoose]

Other Series

Bradley 2-1 Northern Iowa

Drake 3-0 Southern Illinois

Evansville 0-3 Indiana State

Loyola 0-3 Missouri State


Current Standings

13-2 Drake
11-4 Missouri State
 9-6 Illinois State
 8-6 Northern Iowa
 8-7 Bradley
 8-7 Indiana State
[COLOR=#ffd700][B] 7-8 Shockers[/B][/COLOR]
 7-8 Southern Illinois
2-12 Loyola
1-14 Evansville

The Shocks are now two games out of third place which would earn a single bye in the Valley tournament (as does fourth place). With three games to be played against Missouri State, finishing second seems possible (earning a double bye) although I have not compared the remaining schedules of the contenders for spots 2, 3 and 4.

[Shoxtastic]

Other Series

Bradley 2-1 Northern Iowa

Drake 3-0 Southern Illinois

Evansville 0-3 Indiana State

Loyola 0-3 Missouri State


Current Standings

13-2 Drake
11-4 Missouri State
 9-6 Illinois State
 8-6 Northern Iowa
 8-7 Bradley
 8-7 Indiana State
[COLOR=#ffd700][B] 7-8 Shockers[/B][/COLOR]
 7-8 Southern Illinois
2-12 Loyola
1-14 Evansville

The Shocks are now two games out of third place which would earn a single bye in the Valley tournament (as does fourth place). With three games to be played against Missouri State, finishing second seems possible (earning a double bye) although I have not compared the remaining schedules of the contenders for spots 2, 3 and 4.

Boy, what a turnaround from a couple of weeks ago. Kudos to Coach and team, and here's to keeping it going!

[WuDrWu]

The poor conference start cost the ladies a chance to control much of anything. With series against UE, MSU, BU and Loyola, it's not just crazy to think they could finish at 19-8. We'll have a lot better feel after the DH at Wilkins Stadium Wednesday against the Bears.

19-8 would assure them of no worse than 4th. A bizarre finish could keep UNI and ISU in front of WSU and at a minimum drop them into a tie with Drake for 3rd, a tie they would lose.

My guess is 11-1 gets them 3rd for sure, probably 2nd. Let's see how everything looks after Wed. MSU V WSU, ISU v BU, DU v UNI, ISU v Loyola and SIU v UE DHs will help to shake out the possibilities.

[1972Shocker]

We'll have a lot better feel after the DH at Wilkins Stadium Wednesday against the Bears.

And we will have a damn good feel a week from Wednesday at which point we will have the 6 games (weather permitting) with BU and MSU on the books and our remaining 6 games are with Evansville and Loyola who are currently a combined 3-26 in Valley play.

Loyola won the Evansville series 2-1. That 3 games series accounts for of the 3 wins those teams have in Valley play. They are a combined 0-26 against everyone else.

[flyingMoose]

Brittany was name MVC Player of the Week with a BA of .750 and an OPS of 1.953 during the week.

http://cdn.streamlinetechnologies.com/mvc/3087F330-B05D-4FF3-87CB-A78D00B6E19C/MVC Weekly Release 10 (April 13).pdf

http://www.goshockers.com/ViewArticle.dbml?SPSID=61321&SPID=2845&DB_LANG=C&ATCLID=210020066&DB_OEM_ID=7500

[1972Shocker]

Brittany was name MVC Player of the Week with a BA of.750 and an OPS of 1.953 during the week.

http://cdn.streamlinetechnologies.com/mvc/3087F330-B05D-4FF3-87CB-A78D00B6E19C/MVC Weekly Release 10 (April 13).pdf

http://www.goshockers.com/ViewArticl...DB_OEM_ID=7500

Brittany made that choice easy didn't she.

[flyingMoose]

Looking at the Valley release, Katie had to be a close second for Pitcher of the Week.