Shocker SB at Indiana State

[flyingMoose]

The Shockers continue their Valley schedule with a trip to Terre Haute to play the Sycamores of Indiana State. Because of possible bad weather (I assume the same system expected through Wichita late afternoon on Friday), these games have been moved to Friday and Saturday from the normal Saturday-Sunday schedule. The DH on Friday starts at 3pm with a single game on Saturday with a noon start. Drake at Illinois State, Missouri State at Evansville and Loyola at Bradley have also moved their series up a day. Only Northern Iowa at Southern Illinois remains on Saturday and Sunday - because of a field dedication for a HOF former SIU softball coach scheduled for Saturday?

Indiana State has a record in the Valley of 8-11, a tie for seventh with Illinois State, and an overall record of 14-30.

Using conference stats only, Abbie Malchow has an OPS of 1.080 with Alexa Cavin next at .906. In the circle, Taylor Lockwood has recently returned after missing 35 games with a non-softball medical issue. She has five starts, five complete games and two shutouts including a no-hitter against Loyola. Her ERA is 0.96 and WHIP is 0.82. She is the current Pitcher of the Week in the Valley and was the pitcher for the Sycamores when they eliminated the Shocks from last year's Valley Tournament with a 5-1 win. The stats for the other pitchers they have used are brutal.

Copying the Valley-only stats from the Tulsa post we have:

The Shocks still have five players with an OPS greater than 1.00: Cacy (1.241 and seven homers), PaigeL (1.238 and six homers), Macklin (1.228 and five homers), Brittany (1.183) and Liz (1.105). Ashley and Laurie Anne both have an OPS greater than .900. Liz' BA of .434 leads the Valley.

Jenni's pitching numbers are an ERA of 3.12 and a WHIP of 1.47. Katie's are 4.97 and 1.72.

[1972Shocker]

With Lockwood back this looks like it could be challenging series for the Shocks. You would expect Lockwood to pitch two of the games for sure.

Interesting how teams seem to be much more willing to reschedule games due to forecasted weather conditions than in the past. That has happened a lot this year for baseball as well as softball games. Not sure if it has to do with more confidence in current weather forecasting models or schools/conferences trying to avoid losing so many games to weather. In any case, I actually like that they are taking this proactive approach. Nothing is more disappointing than taking a long bus trip (9 hours to Terre Haute) only to have to sit around in hotel due to weather.

[flyingMoose]

With Lockwood back this looks like it could be challenging series for the Shocks. You would expect Lockwood to pitch two of the games for sure.

Lockwood is the prime example of what location will do for you. She doesn't throw that hard by relies on her ability to pitch down-and-away with an occasional up-and-in with a change of speeds mixed in. I think you have to adjust and get up in the batter's box and crowd the plate, but we never adjusted in the Valley Tournament to what Indiana State (see below) was doing.

A correction from an earlier post. Since-graduated Alvarez was the starter against the Shocks, and Lockwood pitched 1.2 innings in relief. But both pitchers had the same approach.

[1972Shocker]

Looks like they should be able to get the DH in today but the 3rd game of the series looks to be in jeopardy due to rainy weather.

[flyingMoose]

Oops. Terre Haute is in the Eastern time zone, and the game started at 2pm Wichita time.

Streaming video is available here, but it is through the mesh and the camera is unattended. You can see all but the corners of the outfield. Oh, and you are periodically interrupted with ads in the middle of play.

[1972Shocker]

Oops. Terre Haute is in the Eastern time zone, and the game started at 2pm Wichita time.

goShockers.com had that wrong as well. So you are in good company.

[flyingMoose]

Game One

Katie has the start in this one, and Brittany is back in left field. Lockwood has the start for Indiana State.

The Shocks scored first on a solo homer by PaigeL in the second.

Brittany sent the center fielder to the warning track in the third. The Sycamores threatened in their half with a walk, sac bunt and single to center. The throw to the plate stopped the runner at third. A throw back to Kelli to get the batter going to second caused the runner to wander too far off the bag at third, and Kelli nailed her with a throw to Liz. I think - sometimes it is hard to see exactly what is going on through the mesh. Shockers lead 1-0 after three complete.

In the fourth, MackenzieW singled, stole second and advanced on the catcher's throwing error to reach third with no outs. With two outs, Cacy drove the ball through the right side to score her.

Indiana State got one back in the bottom of the fourth. A bunt single and a single that a diving Kelli kept in the infield put runners at the corners with two outs. Katie then launched a pitch over MackenzieW's head to score the runner from third. Shocks lead 2-1 after four.

In the fifth, the Sycamores loaded the bases with one out on three singles, at least two of the infield variety. After a foul out, a bouncer through the middle scored a run, but the runner from second was thrown out at the plate by Ashley. Tied at 2-2 after five.

In the Indiana State sixth with two outs and two strikes on the batter, Katie hit her. The runner stole second and advanced to third on a throwing error by MackenzieW. A pitch in the dirt to the following batter squirted away from MackenzieW, she couldn't find it and the runner broke from third. Then she did find the ball and chased the runner back to third, diving to tag her just before the runner reached third on a dive of her own. Still tied after six at 2. Lockwood has retired the Shocks in order in four of the six innings.

With one out in the seventh, Liz doubled to left center. Kennedy, a pinch runner advanced to third on a ground out by Ashley and scored as LA singled up the middle. After a bunt single by Kelli, both runners advanced when Lockwood bounced a change past the catcher, but Brittany ended the inning by striking out.

Katie retired the first two in the seventh, including a strong throw by LA to get a slapper on a banger at first for the second out, before an infield single off Katie's person. Liz threw out the last batter on yet another bunt attempt.

Shockers 3-2 Indiana State


Katie gave up eight hits, none of the extra base variety and at least five of the infield variety, and two walks along with the two runs to get the win. Her record is now 12-6.

Liz had two hits among the Shocker seven with the homer by PaigeL and timely two-out hits by Cacy and LA being enough to beat Lockwood.

Some aggressive base running by the Sycamores turned into some key outs for the Shocks.

[1972Shocker]

Shocks pull out a tough 3-2 win behind a complete game grinder by Katie Malone, some key defensive playes and a 2-out, game winning RBI single by Fr. Laurie Anne Derrico in the 7th inning.

Katie was anything but dominate giving up 8 hits, 2 walks and a hit batter. However, the fact that all 8 hits were singles helped her immensely and the Shocker defense came to her aid as well.

In the Sycamores' 3rd the final out was made at 3rd base when the runner on second was thrown out CF to 2B to 3B on a single. Not sure if she rounded the bag too far and was caught trying to scramble back to the bag of if the hit to CF may have been a blooper that she had to hold up on and got a late jump. That just seems like a weird play.

In the Sycamores' 5th the final out was recorded at the plate when the Indiana State runner on 2nd tried to score on a single to center and Ashley Johnson threw her out at the plate.

More weirdness in the bottom of the 6th. With 2 outs and a runner on 3rd the 7 hole hitter walked and the runner at 3rd was out attempting to steal home. Perhaps a wild pitch that didn't roll very far from the catcher because the out was unassisted by Shocker catcher Mackenzie Wright.

Those plays set-up the 7th for Laurie Anne's 2 out heroics.

Footnote: See descriptions by @flyingMoose: above.

[1972Shocker]

Interestingly, Kelsey Sterneker will start Game 2 for the Shocks. Not sure what that indicates. Jenni did struggle a bit in her short stint at the end of the Tulsa game. Hopefully, not an injury.

Also, Taylor Lockwood, who went the distance in Game 1 for the Sycamores, will be back in the circle in Game 2.

[1972Shocker]

Shocks score 1 in the 1st in Game 2 but it could have been much worse considering they had 4 hits. MackenzieW singled but was thrown out at 2nd on a steal attempt for the 2nd out. Macklin double, scored on a single by PaigeL who took second on the throw home and Cacy singled but PaigeL was thrown out at the plate to end the inning.

Sycamores answer right back. A lead single led to a runner at 3rd with 2 outs. The next batter was credited with a RBI triple but was thrown out RF to 2B to C to 3B to C.

[ShockTalk]

Shocks score 1 in the 1st in Game 2 but it could have been much worse considering they had 4 hits. MackenzieW singled but was thrown out at 2nd on a steal attempt for the 2nd out. Macklin double, scored on a single by PaigeL who took second on the throw home and Cacy singled but PaigeL was thrown out at the plate to end the inning.

Sycamores answer right back. A lead single led to a runner at 3rd with 2 outs. The next batter was credited with a RBI triple but was thrown out RF to 2B to C to 3B to C.

Butlerish?

I also think is could have been much better considering we had 4 hits.

[1972Shocker]

Shockers open up a 5 run lead in the 6th with a 4-spot. Laurie Anne Derrico with another key 2-out hit with a 2-run double.

[1972Shocker]

Butlerish?

I also think is could have been much better considering we had 4 hits.

It could have been much worse for Indiana State and yes it could have been much better for the Shocks. Doesn't look like it is going to come back to haunt the Shocks so that is good.

[flyingMoose]

Game Two

Some of this you have seen on posts by @1972Shocker, but here goes.

Kelsey has the start in this one, and Lockwood is in the circle again for the Sycamores. Jenni must be hurt - Katie getting the start in the first game was not the recent norm for the Shocks.

In the first, MackenzieW singled but was caught stealing for the second out of the inning. But Macklin doubled and PaigeL singled her home, advancing on the throw. PaigeL then attempted to score on a single by Cacy, but was thrown out at home by a ton.

In the bottom of the first, a single, sac bunt and wild pitch advanced a Sycamore to third before she was tripled home on a drive to right center. The batter smelled an inside-the-parker (it appeared that Ashley dove for the ball and PaigeL had to play the ball after it bounced off the fence), but was caught in a rundown and tagged out at home by MackenzieW.

In the Shocker third, MackenzieW reached on an error and scored ahead of Macklin's blast over the right center field fence.

Katie came on to start the bottom of the fourth in the circle. I assume the staff was hoping to get three innings from Kelsey and they did. But the Sycamores scored. The leadoff hitter reached on an error by LA, a tough scoring decision on a ball she tried to backhand toward the 5-6 hole. A sac bunt and single scored the run. Shocks lead 3-2 after four.

In the Shocker sixth, MackenzieW led off with a single, stole second and advanced to third on Macklin's ground out. Benefiel then came on in relief of Lockwood. Her conference ERA is 8.75 with a WHIP of 2.52. I told you. PaigeL walked and went to second without a throw during Cacy's at bat. Cacy walked too, semi-intentionally after the advance by PaigeL. Liz singled to the 5-6 hole, scoring MackenzieW and the bases remained loaded. A chopper by Ashley for an out scored another run. LA then drove a double over the right fielder's head to score Cacy and Liz, the third and fourth runs of the inning. After McKenzieA walked as a pinch-hitter, Lockwood reentered the game. A line out to short by Brittany closed the Shocker half. A two-out double led to nothing for the Sycamores. The Shocks lead 7-2 after six.

In the seventh, a one-out bloop single by Indiana State led to nothing again, and the Shockers come away with a DH-sweep.

Shockers 7-2 Indiana State


Katie gets the win, giving up three hits, one walk and one unearned run in her four innings of relief. Her record is now 13-6. Kelsey did the job she needed to do, giving up three hits and one earned run in her three innings.

Macklin had three hits and MackenzieW had two among the nine hits by the Shocks. Macklin had a double, homer and two RBI, and LA had a double for her two RBI.


Jenni has had arm issues (a sheath that was too tight?) and has had surgery in the past. Sheer speculation is that this has flared up again. Or she could just be ill.

[1972Shocker]

Hope nothing serious with Jenni. We need her.

Katie with one of her best days, if not her best day, of the season.

Nice DH win for the Shocks especially with the 3rd game at risk due to rainy forecasts.