Shocker SB v Western Illinois

[flyingMoose]

The Shockers play a single game against the Fighting Leathernecks (the women's teams were the Westerwinds until 2009) of Western Illinois on Tuesday at 3pm.

Western Illinois are part of The Summit League where they were picked sixth of the seven teams playing softball. Their record of 6-16 includes losses to Drake, Northern Iowa (twice, once by run-rule), Loyola and Indiana State. They played this past weekend in a tournament hosted by Kansas where they lost twice to KU. On Wednesday, they play a DH at Missouri. Both Kansas and Missouri are future opponents of the Shockers.

The two best offensive players for the Leathernecks are Karissa Kouchis (OPS of .898) and Payton Abbott (.786). Nobody else is near .700, and the team has only one home run this season.

Emily Ira and Kacyee Hart have all but two of the starts this year for Western. Ira has an ERA of 4.30 and a WHIP of 1.17, while Hart's numbers are 6.83 and 2.10.

The Shocker's record is now 11-9. PaigeL continues to be the offensive leader with an OPS of 1.184. Macklin is at 1.026 with Cacy and her team-leading three homers at .882.

Katie still has the most innings in the circle with her ERA of 4.13 and WHIP of 1.47. Jenni has an ERA of 2.86 with a WHIP of 1.51.

[flyingMoose]

Katie had the start in this game. The lineup is the usual host of regulars.

The Shockers were the first to score - in the first. PaigeL singled and advanced on an outfield error. Cacy then drove her home.

Western Illinois came back with two runs in the second on a double, single, ground out and two-run single.

The Shocks tied the game in the bottom half on an RBI-single by Cassidy after walks to Macklin and MackenzieW.

The Shockers took the lead with three runs in the third. Walks to Kelli and PaigeL were followed by two ground outs which scored a run. After Macklin walked and stole second, MackenzieW delivered two more runs with a single. The Shocks lead 5-2 after three.

The Leathernecks scored two unearned runs in their fourth, but the Shockers took control of the game with four runs of their own in the bottom half. PaigeL had an RBI single, Cacy had a single that scored two runs and Macklin closed the scoring for the inning (and the game) with an RBI single.

Jenni came on to pitch the last three innings.

Western Illinois 4-9 Shockers


Katie pitched four innings and got the win (4-4), giving up four runs, two of which were earned, and seven hits. She struck out three. Jenni gave up one hit in her three innings of relief and earned her second save.

PaigeL was three-for-three with a double and RBI. Kelli and Cacy had two hits, while MackenzieW had two RBI.


The Shockers open conference play this weekend when they host Northern Iowa.