Shocker SB at Missouri State

[flyingMoose]

The Shockers continue their conference schedule with a DH in Springfield on Wednesday against Missouri State, their "travel partner." The first game is scheduled to start at 3pm. The third game of the series will be played Tuesday of next week in Wichita.

The Bears have a season record of 16-23 with a Valley mark of 5-8. They have split with Illinois State, won one game from Bradley and Southern Illinois, lost two (of two) to Loyola and this past weekend won two of three from previously undefeated Drake.

The offense of Missouri State (again, conference stats only) is led Erin Duewel (OPS of 1.192 and four home runs). No one else with significant playing time in Valley games has an OPS greater than .800.

Erin Streumph is the leader of the pitching staff of the Bears with an ERA of 2.73 and a WHIP of 1.38. She got the two wins against Drake last weekend and is the current Pitcher of the Week in the Valley. Kaitlin Beason (5.68 and 2.03) and Jessie Van Es (5.83 and 2.67) have the other third of the Valley starts.

Brittany (1.241 and three home runs), Macklin (1.183 and three home runs), Liz (1.050), PaigeL (1.045) and Cacy (.988 and four home runs) lead the Shocker offense.

Jenni has an ERA of 3.60 and a WHIP of 1.50 to pace the pitching staff. Katie's numbers are 6.40 and 1.87 and those of Kelsey are 3.71 and 1.67.

The current RPI ranking of the Shockers is 63 and continues to be the best in the Valley. The Bears' ranking is 193.

[1972Shocker]

The Shocks pitching numbers are moving in the wrong direction. Time to locate a compass and found out which direction is South.

[flyingMoose]

Free streaming video is here.

[1972Shocker]

Free streaming video is here.

Thanks fM. That comes in handy since the Gametracker is not being updated. Tied up at 4-4 after 2. Not exactly a pitching duel.

Shocks left the bases loaded in both the 1st and the 2nd. Hopefully, they don't regret not taking advantage of those opportunities.

[1972Shocker]

Back-to-back jacks, a 3-run shot by Macklin Hitz and a solo shot by Paige Luellen (her 2nd of the game) puts the Shocks up 8-4 in the top of the 3rd and knocks MSU's Erin Struemph out of the game.

The Shocks should be cruising but no lead is safe with our pitching.

Shocks leave the bases loaded for the 3rd consecutive inning although Laurie Anne Derrico hit the ball hard lining out to CF to end the inning.

BTW, Drake lost both ends of DH today so if the Shocks can get it done at MSU they will be right back in the hunt for a Valley title.

[flyingMoose]

... since the Gametracker is not being updated.

Use this link.

[1972Shocker]

Shocker freshman utility player Mauriana Jamele, in her 4th AB of the season, gets her 1st collegiate hit, a pinch hit solo homer leading off the Shocker 4th to put the Shocks on top 9-4.

Macklin Hitz now has a single, 2 doubles and a home run still in the top of the 4th.

[1972Shocker]

Shocks working over the MSU pitching staff pretty good. 12 runs on 15 hits in 4 innings including 5 homers. Shocks lead 12-4.

Hopefully, Jenny can hold the fort for 1 more inning and put this one in the books.

[1972Shocker]

Macklin just missed her 5th hit in 5 innings and her 2nd home run of the game flying out to the wall in right with 2 runners on base.

Kelsey Sterneker is in to pitch the 5 inning for the Shocks and she promptly walks the lead off hitter.

Kelsey gets an out before giving up a 2-run homer. Shocks and Bears will play on. Shocks still lead 12-6. Hopefully, HCKB is not playing with fire here.

[1972Shocker]

Wow. Macklin Hitz a grand slam home run in the top of the 7th. Macklin has had slow pitch softball kind of day today. 5 for 6 with 7 RBI and 4 runs scored and the only out she made was a fly ball to RF that was caught at the fence.

Macklin is no doubt happy that the Shocks didn't put the game away in the 5th when they had the chance.

That was the Shocks' 6th homer on the day which I think sets a new school record. IIRC they set the record earlier this year with a 5 home run game.

[1972Shocker]

A 5-3 double play mercifully puts and end to Game 1. Shockers 17-6. Shocks' hitting was outstanding. Shocks' pitching was so-so but that was good enough.

I assume we will see Katie Malone in the circle in Game 2 with Jenni ready to go if Katie needs help.

[flyingMoose]

Note: Hmm, much of this post will duplicate those of @1972Shocker, but there are a few observations that I hope will provide value-add. :)

Game One

Jenni is the starter with the same recent lineup of MackenzieW catching, Liz at third, Laurie Anne at short and Kelli at second. Erin Streumph has the start for the Bears.

The Shockers struck early with three runs in the first. MackenzieW had a solo homer, and PaigeL had a two-run home run after Macklin singled. The Shocks loaded the bases on singles by Cacy and Liz and a walk to LA but could not score again.

The Bears got two runs back in the bottom of the first. After two outs, three singles plated a run. After the throw home on the third single, MackenzieW's low throw back to third to get that runner skittered away and the second run scored on the play. The second single was of the infield variety to Liz at third. It was a one bouncer shoulder-high to her backhand side and should have been fielded. Although the Shocker defense has a reasonable fielding percentage, plays like this do not show up in that number.

The Shocks loaded the bases again in the second on a walk to MackenzieW, double by Macklin and a PaigeL hit-batter. Cacy singled home one run, but the Shockers left the bases loaded again.

The Bears tied the score in the bottom half. A slap single to short was followed by another bouncer to LA. She had no chance to get the slapper-speed runner at second but she tried anyway. See the comment above. A sac bunt advanced the runners. One scored on a ground out, and the second scored on a throwing error by Jenni. 4-4 after two complete.

With Bear runners at second and third in the inning, HCKB made a defensive change, bringing Brittany's challenged throwing arm in and replacing her in the field with Macklin in right with PaigeL moving to left. She made a similar move Saturday against Bradley. The original injury to Brittany occurred last year and kept her out of several games. It appears her arm strength has gotten worse since we are seeing these situational defensive changes.

After two outs in the Shocker third, Brittany and MackenzieW walked. Macklin made the Bears pay with a three-run blast. On the very next pitch, PaigeL followed with a solo homer of her own, her second of the day. Van Es relieved Streumph. The Shocks loaded the bases again on a walk to Cacy, single by Liz and bunt single by Ashley. LA ended the third with a line drive to the center fielder. The Shockers have scored eight runs and managed to leave nine on base in three innings.

Although the Bears got two runners on in the third (with the same defensive change by the Shocks), the Bears did not score - the first scoreless half-inning of the game.

Mauriana Jamele led off the Shocker fourth as a pinch-hitter for Kelli. Her first hit as a Shock clears the left-field wall, the fifth homer of the day for the Shocks. A walk to Brittany, single by Macklin and walk to PaigeL load the bases for the fourth straight inning. A flair to left by Cacy advances everyone one base, and an infield single by Liz does the same. Bethany Canada pinch-hits and delivers a sac fly. This time, the Shocks only leave two on base. The Bears are three-up, three-down in the bottom of the fourth, another shocking development. The Shockers lead 12-4 after four. Mauriana remains in the game at second.

Mauriana gets another hit to lead off the fifth, but the Shocks do not score. Macklin drove the right fielder to the wall in her at-bat.

Kelsey comes on to start the fifth. She walks the first batter after starting 0-2. After a pop-out, Kelsey allow a two-run homer. She retired the next two batters, but the Bears avoid the run-rule loss for the time being. Shockers lead 12-6 after five.

In the Shocker seventh, a single by LA, error and single by MackenzieW load the bases. Macklin follows with a grand-slam. Perhaps Kelsey has given Macklin a chance for the Player of the Week award. PaigeL follows with a walk and Cacy with a single. The Bears make another error on a pinch-hit ground ball by Kennedy Long to score the fifth run of the inning for the Shocks.

The Bears get a walk and single in the seventh, but MackenzieW ends the game with a third to first double play.

Shockers 17-6 Missouri State


The Shockers had twenty-one! hits with five by Macklin, four by Cacy and three each by MackenzieW and Liz. PaigeL and Macklin had two homers, and MackenzieW and Mauriana had one. Macklin had seven RBI and PaigeL had three RBI. The Shockers left fourteen on base.

Jenni went four innings, giving up two earned runs and five hits, to get the win and run her record to 13-6. Kelsey gave up two runs and three hits in her three innings.

[flyingMoose]

Here is the link for the second game LiveStats. Yes, I have noticed in recent years that GT will go dead for awhile, and it does not appear to sport- or school-specific.

[1972Shocker]

The Shockers had twenty-one! hits

I believe the MSU announcer said that was a new stadium record and the Shocks' 6 home runs tied the stadium record.

Big Mack's slugging percentage today was 2.167 while her OPS was 3.000. She will hard pressed to ever beat that although had the fly ball to RF that was caught at the fence had a few more feet it she would be looking at 2.833 and 3.833 with 10 RBI. I guess she will just have to settle for what she got.

I don't expect Big Mack to see very many pitches to hit in Game 2.

[flyingMoose]

Game Two

Katie has the start for the Shocks, and Kaitlin Beason starts for the Bears. Mauriana has the start at second ahead of Kelli whose offense has fallen off in recent weeks.

The Shocks scored in the second with a double by PaigeL, sac bunt and RBI single by Liz.

The Bears took the lead in the bottom of the third with a walk, ground out, RBI double and another run on an infield single.

Cacy then came to the rescue with solo home runs in the fourth and sixth innings.

Missouri State had two runners reach in the fourth and seventh innings, but Katie was able to hold off the Bears.

Shockers 3-2 Missouri State


Katie allowed seven hits in the complete game win with just one extra base hit, her usual nemesis. She walked two and struck out two. Her record is now 9-6.

In addition to the two homers by Cacy, Ashley had three hits and Laurie Anne had two. PaigeL's double was the only other extra base hit among the nine hits by the Shocks.