Shocker SB at UTA Invitational

[flyingMoose]

This weekend the Shockers head to Arlington for the UTA Invitational. Other teams at the tournament are UMKC, Nicholls State and host UT-Arlington.

The Shockers open with two games on Friday, UMKC at 1230pm and UT-Arlington at 530pm. Two more games on Saturday are UMKC at 10am and Nicholls State at 3pm. The last game of the tournament for the Shocks is on Sunday against Nicholls State at 9am.

The Kangaroos of UMKC (sometimes you see Kansas City) are picked for fifth among the six teams playing softball in the WAC. Outfielder Kendra Leach and infielder Bri Sims were chosen as members of the Preseason All-WAC Team. The Roos are 3-6 after tournaments hosted by Belmont (Nashville) and Coastal Carolina. Alex Larson was the WAC Pitcher of the Week following last weekend. She easily has the best stats of the four pitchers who have seen significant action in the early season. The leading hitters at this point are Leach, Kelsey Goodwin, and Ashlin O'Brien.

The UTA Mavericks are picked for seventh in the ten-team Sun Belt Conference. Louisiana (sometimes known as Louisiana-Lafayette) are the perennial power in this conference. The Mavs are coached by Kristie Fox, a two-time All-American at Arizona. Sandra Mendoza is a member of the Preseason All-SBC Team and was a member of the First Team last year. UTA opened their season at the Kajikawa Classic, another tournament hosted by Arizona State, where they were 1-4, losing to ASU, 8-0(6). Last weekend, they were 4-0 at a tournament hosted Southeastern Louisiana. In the early season, Krista Rude and Shelbi Sikes are the leading hitters. Sam Clakley is the mainstay in the circle.

Nicholls State is picked fourth among twelve teams in the Southland Conference. Amanda Gianelloni is a pick for First Team Preseason All-Southland for the Colonels. Among three Second Team picks is Megan Landry who is the Southland Pitcher of the Week for both weeks of the season. Jackie Johnson is the other primary pitcher, and both she and Landry have an ERA less the 1.0. Samantha Mracich and Haley Stevenson are the leading hitters stat-wise after the first two weeks. Kendal Daniels has two home runs in five at-bats. The Colonels have a record of 11-2 which includes four mid-week wins against teams from the SWAC. They opened their season at a tournament hosted by Southeastern Louisiana where they notched a win over Southern Illinois followed by a tournament last weekend hosted by Southern Mississippi.

The Shockers are 4-2 after losing two games to the weather last Saturday. In the early season, Macklin, Mauriana, Mackenzie, Laurie and Kelli all have an OPS of 1.000 or better. Paige is the bat that is (unexpectedly) missing from that list. Katie and Bailey both have a nice ERA (2.00 and 2.33) and a nice WHIP (1.25 and 1.11).

[martymoose]

Don't want to spam the forum, but I posted a listing for some softball season tickets if anyone has interest. Thanks!

http://shockernet.net/forum/showthread.php?22615-3-Season-Passes-to-Softball-more

[flyingMoose]

Game One

UMKC 0-12(5) Shockers

I have been afflicted by the server-side issues talked about in Comments/Questions/Concerns, so this update is past late.

The Roos beat Nicholls State 8-4 in the game preceding this one, a score that is a bit of a surprise given the results those teams had coming into this tournament.

The starting lineup was shuffled a bit: Mackenzie-5, Kelli-7, Macklin-3, Laurie-6, Paige-9, Madison-2, Mauriana-DP, Ryleigh-4, Ashley-8.

Katie got the start and pitched a three-hit, two-walk shutout with six strikeouts. With thirteen hits off of three UMKC pitchers, there were a number of notables on offense for the Shockers. (And all the damage was done in three at-bats as the Shocks went down in order in the first inning.) Laurie had a two-run homer and an RBI double, Mackenzie had a double that cleared the bases for three RBI, Paige had three singles, Madison had a two-run homer and a single, Kelli had a double and a single and Morgan Palmer, the transfer from Seminole State, had a single that drove in two runs. This is Morgan's first appearance, so I wonder if she was a bit dinged up earlier. I think that is all the multi-hit, multi-RBI and multi-base hits to be mentioned. :)

[flyingMoose]

Other Friday Games

UMKC 8-4 Nicholls State
The Roos hit four homers and picked on both of the top pitchers of the Colonels.

Nicholls State 0-4 UT Arlington
Clakley, the ace of the Mavs staff, threw a six-hitter, and Garcia hit two home runs. Landry, the ace of the Colonels staff, was the loser.

[1972Shocker]

Game One
Katie got the start and pitched a three-hit, two-walk shutout with six strikeouts.

An interesting outing by Katie. From what I could tell from the P-B-P recap Katie faced 20 batters. She gave up 3 singles, two walks (both in the 1st), struck out 6 and induced 9 ground ball outs. Of the 3 singles she allowed two did not leave the infield. One was decscribed as a single to the catcher (maybe a swinging bunt?), one was described as a bunt single and with 2 outs in the 5th she gave up a single (although there was no description where the single was hit). So at most Katie allowed one ball to leave the infield (not sure if it was a bloop, ground single, line drive or what). In any case, Katie must have done a great job pitching down in the zone. A really nice bounce back from her last outing vs Arizona State.

[flyingMoose]

Game Two

Shockers at UT Arlington

Bailey has the start with the same starting lineup as the first game.

The Shocks plate a run in the first on a double by Mackenzie, sac bunt by Kelli and ground out by Macklin. Laurie and Paige follow with singles, but the Shocks cannot push another run across.

Shockers lead 1-0 after one.

[flyingMoose]

In the second, Mauriana singles but is thrown out trying to advance to third on Ryleigh's single. Ryleigh is then doubled off second on a line drive out by Ashley. Kinda ugly.

In the bottom half with two outs, Bailey walks the seven-hole batter on four pitches, hits the next batter on a 3-0 count and walk the bottom of the order on a full count. Katie comes on and give up a two-run single before getting a line drive out.

Shocks trail 2-1 after two complete.

[flyingMoose]

See ya after WBB.

[1972Shocker]

Katie induced 3 ground outs in the 3rd all 6-3.

[1972Shocker]

The Shocks explode for 9 runs in the top of the 4th.

A Paige walk followed by a Madison Perrigan home run (her 2nd of the day) plated 2 runs.

Mauriana doubled and Ryleigh sac bunted her over to 3rd. Mckenzie Adams doubled Mauriana home for the 3rd run of the inning.

Mackenzie Wright was hit by a pitch to put runners at 2nd and 3rd. Kelli Spring plated the 4th run of the inning with an RBI single with Mackenzie moving to 3rd and Kelli taking 2nd on the throw.

Macklin reached 2B on an error by the LF with Mackenzie scoring the 5th run of the inning and Kelli moving to 3rd.

Laurie drove in Macklin and Kelli with a double to right center to plate runs 6 and 7 of the inning.

Paige walked followed by Madison single to load the bases. Laurie and Paige scored on a Mauriana fielders choice and an error to close out the scoring.

In the bottom of the 4th Katie surrendered a lead off home to make the score 10-3 after 4 complete.

With two outs in the 5th a Mavs batter reached on catcher's interference and Katie gave up her 2nd homer of the game to make it 10-5 after 5.

[1972Shocker]

The Shocks small-balled their way to a 5-run sixth to take a 14-5 lead.

With 1-out Madison walked and Kiersten was inserted as a PR. Mauriana hit into a 5-6 fielder's choice forcing Kiersten at 2nd for the 2nd out.

Ryleigh walked to put runners on 1st and 2nd. Mckenzie A singled to LF to drive in Mauriana and move Ryleigh to 2nd.

McKenzie W then reached on an infield hit to load the bases and Kelli delivered Ryleigh and Mckenzie A with a single with Mackenzie W and Kelli moving up to 3rd and 2nd on the throw.

Macklin then reached on yet another infield single scoring Mackenzie W and moving Kelli to 3rd.

Kelli then scored on a double steal with Macklin being tagged out after Kelli scored.

Talk about death by a thousand cuts.

[1972Shocker]

The Mavs could only manage and infield single in the bottom of the 6th sandwiched between 2 stirkeouts followed by pop out to 1B and the Shocks have the 2nd run-rule win of the day.

Katie picks up her 2nd win of the day pithing the final 4.1 innings allowing 3 runs (2 earned) on 4 hits while striking out 3 and walking none.

Bailey needs to come back strong tomorrow.

Coach Nicole perhaps deserving of some praise for the work the Shocks are getting done at the plate.

Another 16 hits in this game with 6 multi-hit games: Mackenzie W (2-4, 3 Runs), Kelli (3-4, 2 Runs, 3 RBI), Laurie (2-4, 1 Run, 2 RBI), Madison (2-3, 1 run, 2 RBI), Mauriana (2-4, 2 Runs), and Mckenzie A (2-3, 2 Runs, 2 RBI).

Macklin was only 1-5 but she did have 3 RBI.

[1972Shocker]

Game Three

Shockers vs UMKC

Bailey has the start in the circle for the Shocks. O'Brien for the Roos. Andra O'Brien.

Shocks put up a run in the 1st. However, UMKC struck back in the bottom of the 2nd for 2 runs on 3 hits and a throwing error by Mackenzie Wright.

Bailey walked the lead off batter in the bottom of the 2nd and was replaced by Katie Malone. Bailey has been on a short leash this weekend.

Shockers scored an unearned run in the 3rd to tie the game at 2-2.

Shocks blow a golden opportunity to add to their 6-3 lead in the 7th as they loaded the bases with no outs. However, Kelli hit into a 1-2-3 DP and allowed the Roos to escape with no further damage. Shocks have stranded 13 runners today.

Shockers stranded 2 runners in the 4th. UMKC took a 3-2 lead on a solo homer leading off the bottom half of the 4th.

Laurie answered with a 1 out solo homer in the top of the 5th to tie it up again at 3-all.

Shocks tack on 3 in their half of the 6th on 4 hits with the key hit being a 2-out, 2-run single to RF by Madison Perrigan to take a 6-3 lead.

UMKC gets the tying run to the plate in the bottom of the 7th but Katie strands 2 and the Shocks secure the 6-3 win. Game probably should not have been that close. The Shocks produced 13 hits and received 5 walks and 2 hit batters but they stranded 13. But a win is a win.

Katie picks up the win with 6 innings of solid work in relief of Bailey. 1 run on 5 hits and a big 10 strikeouts and only 1 walk. However, we need to get more than we are getting out of Bailey.

[flyingMoose]

Game Three

Bailey has been on a short leash this weekend.

However, we need to get more than we are getting out of Bailey.

I wonder if Bailey is trying to pitch through an injury, a blister for example. She is only a freshman, of course, but she has shown enough that back-to-back bad outings would be unexpected.

[flyingMoose]

Game Three

Shockers vs UMKC

McKenzieA got the start in center field and was three-for-four, all singles.