Shocker SB v Southern Illinois

[flyingMoose]

The Shockers close out their Valley conference regular season hosting Southern Illinois with a DH against the Salukis starting at noon on Saturday and a single game at noon on Sunday.

Southern Illinois has a conference mark of 14-9 and have won six of their last seven games in the Valley. Their team ERA of 1.80 leads the Valley by almost a full run.

Leaders in the circle for the Salukis are Brianna Jones who has an ERA of 1.94 and a WHIP of 1.05, and Savanna Dover with an ERA of 1.58 and a WHIP of 1.34. Jones has twice as many innings as Dover. Those ERAs are the second and third best in the Valley, trailing only Lockwood of Indiana State. Jones is also one of 26 finalists for NFCA Freshman of the Year.

Shaye Harre leads the offense for Southern Illinois with an OPS of 1.215 and five home runs. She is the current Valley Player of the Week, her second such award this year. Jessica Heese at .898 is their only other hitter with an OPS greater than .800.

The Shockers continue to have a crop of hitters with outstanding OPS: PaigeL (1.211 and seven homers), Macklin (1.209 and six homers), Cacy (1.204 and seven homers), Liz (1.120) and Brittany (1.022). Liz has a BA of .444 which trails league-leader Riley Strandgard of Illinois State by .002.

Jenni and Katie now have almost the same number of innings in Valley play. Jenni has an ERA of 3.07 and a WHIP of 1.45. Katie's numbers are 4.15 and 1.62.

[1972Shocker]

Looks like a classic good hitting vs good pitching match-up. My not be good for the Shocks considering how often good pitching trumps good hitting but we will see. Should be a very good series and a good one to have heading into the post-season.

Shocks need 1 win (or a Drake loss against Bradley) to clinch an outright regular season championship.

[xazshox]

WSU Clinches MVC Softball title

WSU got on the board first with a 2-run Hr by Caci Williams in the 2nd inning or 3rd inning. SIU came back to tie, 2-2 & then WSU SS, Laurie Ann Del Rico, who has having a marvelous frosh season, hit a solo shot over the left center field fence, to put WSU back up 3-2. SIU then came back to take the lead again, 4-3, but Paige Luellen hit a 2-run shot in the 5th inning (if I recall correctly) to put WSU up for good as they won 5-4. Kristi B used 3 pitchers in this one with Jenni throwing 2 2/3 inning. Kelsey S came into get the final out of the inning & then went another inning or so. After that, Katie Malone came in & gave up a 2-run shot, but got out a jam or two to get the win. I didn't take notes, but she had runners on 2nd & 3rd with one out in the bottom of 6th or 7th inning. She then got a strikeout & with 2 outs, she got someone to hit the ball to a WSU defender for the final out. Can't remember if it was a groundout or pop up fly.

[wusphlash]

Congratulations ladies on another championship. We'll done.

[flyingMoose]

WSU got on the board first with a 2-run Hr by Caci Williams in the 2nd inning or 3rd inning. SIU came back to tie, 2-2 & then WSU SS, Laurie Ann Del Rico, who has having a marvelous frosh season, hit a solo shot over the left center field fence, to put WSU back up 3-2. SIU then came back to take the lead again, 4-3, but Paige Luellen hit a 2-run shot in the 5th inning (if I recall correctly) to put WSU up for good as they won 5-4. Kristi B used 3 pitchers in this one with Jenni throwing 2 2/3 inning. Kelsey S came into get the final out of the inning & then went another inning or so. After that, Katie Malone came in & gave up a 2-run shot, but got out a jam or two to get the win. I didn't take notes, but she had runners on 2nd & 3rd with one out in the bottom of 6th or 7th inning. She then got a strikeout & with 2 outs, she got someone to hit the ball to a WSU defender for the final out. Can't remember if it was a groundout or pop up fly.

Jenni was basically cruising until the fourth inning and two outs. Then things fell apart. She is having the same arm issues of a couple of years ago, and the staff just has do the best they can with her. Kelsey got the last out of the inning.

LA took a high outside pitch (still possibly a strike) and drove it over the left center field fence to get the lead back.

Kelsey did not do much good in the fifth, giving up three hits and a run before Katie came on. She wild pitched home the lead run at 4-3 SIU. We got help getting out of the inning on a busted suicide squeeze when MackenzieW ran down the runner. Brittany, not PaigeL, got the lead back with a two-run homer in the bottom of the fifth.

In the Saluki seventh, two singles and a sac bunt put the result in question. Katie then got a strikeout on a change and a line drive directly to McKenzieA in left to end the game.

Anytime Southern Illinois got a runner to second, HCKB made the change of bringing Macklin in to play right, moving PaigeL to left and sitting Brittany. Brittany's shoulder problems prevent her from making throws to the plate from the outfield. Any other throw can be to the cutoff. Since the batting order did not change, and the Flex was still playing defense, the change could be made as many times as necessary - five times in this game.

[flyingMoose]

Game Two

With the conference regular season championship clinched, the result of this game is not too surprising.

Southern Illinois scored four runs in the first and five in the second. Katie started and went 0.1 innings, giving up five hits and four runs. Jenni lasted 1.1 innings, giving up three hits and five runs, one earned. Ashlynne finished the game and pitched fairly well. She went 3.1 innings, giving up two runs on four hits and three walks.

Cacy had a solo homer in third, and LA had a two-run shot in the fifth.

Southern Illinois 11-3(5) Shockers


Tomorrow's start time has been moved to 11am.

[flyingMoose]

Riley Strandgard of Illinois State was 1-for-7 today is now hitting .417. Liz was 1-for-2 and is now hitting .446.

Brittany's home run in the first game was good to see as she has been scuffling lately.

[flyingMoose]

Game Three

Cancelled

[flyingMoose]

Riley Strandgard of Illinois State was 1-for-7 today is now hitting .417. Liz was 1-for-2 and is now hitting .446.

Brittany's home run in the first game was good to see as she has been scuffling lately.

Strandgard slipped even further against Chelsea Ross of Northern Iowa and finished the conference season at .405 - in third place behind Liz at .446 - and Cacy! at .411. Macklin finished sixth with a BA of .392.

[flyingMoose]

The Shocker RPI ranking remains at 50.