Shocker SB at Illinois State

[flyingMoose]

The Shockers continue their conference schedule with a trip to Normal this weekend to play Illinois State. The DH starts at noon on Saturday with a single game at noon on Sunday. This series will be the home opener for the Redbirds.

Illinois State has a record of 9-21 overall and 1-4 in the Valley, winning one of two games at Missouri State and losing all three at Southern Illinois. Their RPI ranking for this week is 93 which is fourth in the Valley. The Redbirds typically play the most aggressive non-conference schedule in the conference and are 0-9 against ranked teams.

Jordan de los Reyes has the highest OPS at .920, and her five home runs lead the team. The team OPS is .677.

Sarah Finck has the most starts for the pitching staff. Her ERA is 3.10 with a WHIP of 1.41. The other pitchers are Ali Domkuski (4.92 and 2.23) and Regan Romshek (5.43 and 2.00).

The leading hitter for the Shocks is now Macklin Hitz with an OPS of 1.289 and six home runs. Others are PaigeL (1.139), Cacy (.967 and six home runs) and Brittany (.950). The team OPS for the Shockers is .831.

Jenni is now the pitching staff leader with an ERA of 2.55 and a WHIP of 1.31. Katie's numbers are 4.04 and 1.56, and those of Kelsey are 3.29 and 1.63.

[1972Shocker]

In Game 1 the Shocks put up a snowman in the 1st inning scoring 8 runs on only 4 hits (a double and 3 singles) and some Illinois State Charity. The Redbirds walked 3, hit 2 batters, had a passed ball and had an infield error.

However, the Shocks have only 1 hit in the 2nd through the 5th innings and Illinois State has worked their way back into the game. Jenni Brooks got the start. In the bottom of the 3rd Illinois State strung together a single, double and triple to produced 2 runs. In the Redbirds 4th they got a lead off double and then a 2-out, 2-run homer to make it 8-4 after 4 innings.

After giving up a lead-off double in the 5th Kesley Sterneker came on in relief of Jenni. She promptly gave up an RBI single before getting the next 3 batters in order. Shocks lead 8-5 after 5.

Shocks go down in order in the 6th. The Redbirds put runners on 1st and 2nd with 2 outs for Jordan de los Reyes who was 3 for 3 in the game with 3 doubles. Kesley bowed up and struck out de los Reyes to get out of the 6th unscathed.

The Shocks down in order again in the 7th. Kelsey gives up a 1-out pinch hit home run to make it 8-6. Katie Malone is brought in to try to close the game out, Katie gets the 2nd out on a foul fly ball to LF but then walks the next batter to bring the tying run to the plate. Fortunately, Katie get's a strike out to end the game.

While the Shocks get the win I don't see how they can be happy at all with that performance. After Macklin Hitz lead off the 2nd with a single Sarah Finck who came on in relief of Regan Romshek in the 1st retired 18 consecutive Shocker hitters. I am sure HCKB will not be too pleased with that nor with the fact she had to go through 3 pitchers to finish of a game her team lead 8-0 after the 1st inning.

Illinois State ended up outhitting the Shockers 12-5 and producing 20 total bases on their 12 hits to just 6 for the Shocks on their 5 hits.

[1972Shocker]

In Game 2 Katie Malone is in he circle for the Shocks. Apparently, Sarah Finck was so effective retiring the final 19 batter she faced in game 1 that the Redbirds decided just to stick with what was working and she is starting Game 2.

Apparently HCKB may have had a bit of a heart-to-heart talk with her team after they took a slumber over the final 6 innings of game 1 as the first 6 Shocker batters reached safely. Fortner double, Spring walk, Luellen single, Williams single and Wright with a double producing a 4-run lead for the Shocks. That ended Finck's outing early in Game 2. The Shocks pushed across 1 inherited runner against relief pitcher Ali Domkuski to go take a 5 run lead with Illiinois State coming to bat in the bottom of the 1st. Hopefully, they will stay alert and competitive throughout this game.

[1972Shocker]

Just SMH. Katie Malone retired the 1st to Redbirds she faced. That was followed by a single, a walk, a single, a single and a home run. Illinois State ties it up at 5-all.

A solo homer by Brittany Fortner leading off the 2nd gives the Shocks the lead back at 6-5. Walks to Spring and Luellen followed by a home run by Cacy Williams pushes the lead back to 4 at 9-5. After a Mackenzie Wright single Illinois State makes another pitching change bringing in Shannon Felde. Laurie Ann Derrico lined out to SS and Mackenzie is double up at 1B.

May be heading towards a football-type score in game 2.

A Paige Luellen solo homer puts the Shocks up 10-5 after 4 complete.

Laurie Ann Derrico leads off the Shocker 5th with a home run and the Shocks tack on 3 more after that to go up by three field goals at 14-5.

Katie gives up 1 run in the bottom of the 5th but is able to maintain the lead at 8-runs as the games ends at 14-6 under the runs ahead rule. Not sure an 8-run lead in this game was safe the way today has gone but I'm sure the Shocks were glad that it did.

Probably not the way you would draw it up but the Shocks did sweep today's DH and can go for the series sweep tomorrow.

[WuDrWu]

Wow.

After taking an 8-5 lead with 3 runs in the top of the 7th, the Shocks give up 4 in the bottom of the 7th on ONE FREAKING SINGLE.

Walk, error, error, HBP, single, error, error and the game is over, 9-8 final.

Something is in the water on that part of the campus.

[1972Shocker]

Ouch. Looks like the Shocks just gave that game away.